Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has demanded the release of 18 kidnapped Turks while Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has offered the Iraqi government his help in gaining their freedom.
At least 72 people were killed and 14 were wounded:
In Baiji, three security personnel were killed and eight more were wounded in a militant attack. Sixteen militants were also killed.
A civilian was shot dead and another was wounded in Tuz Khormato.
Thirty militants were killed and more were wounded due to Federal Police shellfire in eastern Anbar.
Peshmerga forces killed four militants caught planting bombs in Ba’shiqah.
Six militants were killed during a police operation in Tel Massoud.
In Owanait, three militants were killed and five were wounded during an operation.
Four militants were killed in Salah ad Din province.
An operation on Jeraishi left three suicide bombers dead.
Two militants were killed in airstrikes on Albu Aitha.
In Tal Afar, several militant leaders were killed during airstrikes.
Dozens of militants were killed in airstrikes near Baghdad.
