Pilgrims Attacked in Baghdad; 120 Killed in Iraq

Militants used Muharram observances to attack Shi’ite pilgrims in Baghdad.

An oil deal between Arbil and Baghdad is apparently behind Kurdish troops staying out of the battle for Mosul, which is expected to begin later this month. Also, the Iraqi government re-iterated its decision that Turkish troops are not welcome in Iraq and will not be permitted to participate in the operation against Mosul.

Schoolchildren in recently liberated Qayara are learning that the Iraqi government is rejecting the education they received during the occupation. They may have to repeat grades, if no other solution is found.

At least 120 people were killed and 73 more were wounded in recent violence:

Militants executed 45 civilians in Hawija. An airstrike on oil facilities killed six militants. A family trying to escape came across a landmine; three were killed and two were wounded.

In Baghdad, a suicide bomber killed seven pilgrims and wounded 25 more in Amil. Six pilgrims were killed and 21 were wounded in a suicide blast in Mashtal. A third bombing killed three people and wounded 10 in Sabaa al-Bour.

Miliants in Mosul executed a police officer and his son. An airstrike killed 10 militants. A radio station broadcasting Daesh programming was destroyed in an airstrike.

Two Peshmerga fighters were killed in Sinjar. Kurdistan Workers Party (P.K.K.) guerrillas are suspected of the murder.

Gunmen in Kirkuk killed an official from the North Oil Company.

A Qayara police officer was executed in Hud after he was kidnapped by militants.

Peshmerga forces in Khazar killed 12 militants.

Shelling left 12 militants dead in Bashiqa and Fadiliyah.

In Riyadh, shelling left seven militants dead and 12 wounded.

A dispute among militants in Mtabijh left one dead and three wounded.

Author: Margaret Griffis

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