Several Shi’ite leaders decried the deployment of additional United States troops to Iraq. Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr went as far as to declare the soldiers “targets” for Iraqis should troops participate in the Mosul operation. Others called the soldiers “occupiers” or merely “unnecessary”.
At least 133 people were killed, and nine were wounded:
In Rutba a suicide bomber killed three policemen and wounded five civilians. Twelve militants were killed including suicide bombers.
At the Alas oil fields, seven security members and seven militants were killed in clashes.
A bomb in Baghdad killed one security member and wounded five more. Security forces killed a militant.
Fighting in Doulab left 73 militants dead.
Security forces killed 10 militants in Halawat and Hawija.
In Mosul, unidentified residents killed five militants. Several more were injured.
Five militants were killed in Rawa, including a mufti.
Shelling left five fighters dead in Ramadi.
