A deadline for Christians to leave Mosul or submit to the Islamic State has passed, but not without universal condemnation. At least 131 people were killed and 83 more were wounded in attacks and clashes.
Politics:
Kurdish President Massoud Barzani said that Iraq faces partition if the government does not work at establishing a "true partnership." He insisted that everyone has a natural right to self-determination, including the Kurds. But, even as the Kurds try to work within the current Iraqi system, it appears that they are still headed towards independence.
His son, Masrour Barzani, who is the head of the National Security Council in Iraqi Kurdistan, warned the international community of blowback from Iraq. He said the West should feel responsible for the Islamic State now being well armed and that they must do more to stop them.
A deadline for Christians to convert, pay a tax, or leave Mosul has now passed. Many have abandoned their belongings and property to flee to Kurdistan. Christians have been in the area since the early days of their religion.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki took time to criticize the Islamic State for persecuting the Christian community. Meanwhile, trying to comfort the Christians, Pope Francis said he knew of their suffering and is in constant prayer for them. The most prominent Christian in Iraq, Louis Raphaël I Sako, compared the Islamic State with Genghis Khan, who sacked Baghdad but did not chase out Christians. Also, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expanded his condemnation of the Islamic State to include other, non-Christian minorities, such as the Shabaks, Turkmen, and Yazidi groups.
Fighting:
Fourteen people were killed and 21 more were wounded during shelling in Falluja.
In Baghdad, gunmen killed a civilian. A sticky bomb killed one civilian and wounded another.
Two dumped bodies, bearing gunshot wounds, were found in Taji.
Nine civilians were wounded when a Katyusha rocket fell on Taza.
In Mosul, eight people were wounded in two drone attacks; some of them may have been militants. Six militants were killed a separate operation.
One civilian was skilled and 10 more were wounded when mortars fell on Mahmoudiya. Apparently, eight of them died later.
Five volunteers were killed when a roadside bomb exploded in Abu Ghraib.
A car bomb in Rutba wounded four people.
Air strikes in Baaj left at least 44 militants dead and 38 wounded.
Clashes left 20 militants dead in Jurf al-Sakhar.
A militant emir and five aides were killed during an operation near Camp Ashraf.
Near Saidiya, a roadside bomb killed seven Naqshabandiya Army militants.
Thirteen militants were killed in Duluiya.
Tal Afar security forces killed three militants.
