The United States announced that $2.1 billion dollars was raised to aid Iraq at a donor conference. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke at the conference and said the real challenge is to stabilize newly liberated areas. The funds raised should go to those efforts.
The United Nations is asking for $285 million to begin preparations for civilian relief during the oncoming battle to liberate Mosul. That operation will likely precipitate the largest post-ISIS humanitarian crisis in Iraq, if not the world. An expected 1.5 million civilians will be affected. Mosul is Iraq’s second largest city.
The United Kingdom is planning to double the number of its military trainers in Iraq to 500 personnel.
Germany opened two training centers in Kurdistan. It is one of the few countries supporting the Kurds directly instead of through the federal government in Baghdad.
Canada is planning to send 40-60 personnel to open a hospital in Kurdistan, far from the front lines.
Australia also announced a small increase of 15 personnel.
Turkish airstrikes killed 20 Kurdistan Workers Party (P.K.K.) militants in an unauthorized strike in northern Iraq.
In northern Iraq, a specialized squad of Peshmerga fighters known as the “Black Devils” has been fairly successful in their missions against the Islamic State militants.
At least 29 people were killed, and two were wounded:
Two children died of heat stroke as they tried to escape Shirqat with their families.
At a Latifiya checkpoint, a sniper killed one soldier and wounded two more.
Airstrikes on Khalidiya Island left 20 militants dead.
Six militants were killed in a failed attack on Sinjar.
Strikes on Aiadhiah, Baaj, and Tal Afar left many militants dead.
