The capital of Anbar province, Ramadi, has apparently fallen to Islamic State militants. Meanwhile, Saddam’s former deputy may have resurfaced in an audio released by the Ba’ath Party. Also, Iraq is in desperate need of acquiring more mental health professionals. At least 62 were killed and 10 more were wounded, but those numbers are expected to rise.
An audio recording of Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri has apparently surfaced. Douri was a senior member of Saddam Hussein’s administration and now leads the Naqshabandiya militant group. A red-haired man resembling him was killed last month in the Himreen area, but there was no confirmation that the dead man was Douri.
The current war is adding to the numbers of mentally traumatized Iraqis, but a lack of health care professionals and a stigma associated with mental health is preventing them from seeking help.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that would allow the direct arming of Kurdish forces in Iraq. President Barack Obama has promised to veto the bill.
Ramadi has fallen. About 90 percent of the city is in militant hands, and they have taken control of all the arms abandoned by government troops who fled the city. Residents were, again, forced to flee as well. Anbar’s Governor Sohaib al-Rawi claimed the city had not yet fallen, but the group’s flag was raised over the complex housing the government’s offices.
Ramadi is the capital of Anbar province. In recent weeks, Iraqi security forces and Coalition airstrikes had kept the militants at bay, but Baghdad’s refusal to adequately arm local Sunni fighters has only helped the Islamic State militants.
Six suicide bombers (one of the British) launched the attack. At least 10 policemen were killed and dozens of security personnel were wounded. Militants also said they killed 13 soldiers on a hill near the city and executed 14 tribal fighters in the neighborhood of Jamiya. Witnesses reported many bodies on the streets.
The town of Jubbah was also captured.
A security commander was wounded during clashes in al-Baghdadi.
In Najaf, gunmen killed a man who is the son-in-law of a religious authority.
Ten militants were killed in Tel Abu Jarad.
Security forces killed seven militants in Baiji.
Five militants were killed and one more was wounded in Sinjar.
Near Adhaim, security forces killed a militant judge and three companions.
Airstrikes left 10 militants dead and eight wounded in Falluja.
In Haditha, dozens of militants were killed.
