Militants Immolate Civilians; 216 Killed in Iraq

Authorities officially declared Shirqat fully liberated, while military officials described the operation as relatively easy. Shi’ite militias did not participate; however, locals formed their own Sunni militias to fight. One former hairdresser, Wehda al-Jumaili, organized her own after her husband was murdered by the militants during the occupation. The operation did not cause any dramatic displacement of residents, but that may have been due to them being trapped.

Former Finance Minister Hoshiyar Zebari claimed that former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (who is now a vice president) was behind his dismissal from office.

The United Kingdom announced it would deliver $52.26 million in humanitarian aid to prepare for the dislocations expected as a result of the upcoming Mosul operation.

The Pentagon is requesting to send 500 additional U.S. troops to Iraq.

At least 216 people were killed:

In Mosul, militants burned six civilians to death.

An airstrike on Safina village near Shirqat left 160 militants dead.

Forty militants were killed in a failed attack against Qayara area villages.

Security forces killed four militants during the liberation of al-Jard and al-Taysa. At least six others were killed there or in nearby villages.

At Camp Bravo, dozens of militants were killed during operations.

Author: Margaret Griffis

Margaret Griffis is a journalist from Miami Beach, Florida and has been covering Iraqi casualties for Antiwar.com since 2006.