At least 175 people were killed across Iraq, and 102 more were wounded. Baghdad suffered a series of bombings again, but an army base in Anbar province is where most of the action is probably occurring today. Also, the Islamic State militants are causing tremendous upheaval across the border in a Kurdish area of Syria.
Syria:
The number of refugees fleeing from Syria into Turkey may now be over 100,000 since the border opened to them on Friday. Another 50,000 may be internally displaced, because Islamic State militants are advancing toward Ain al-Arab (Kobanê in Kurdish) in Syria. Many of the refugees are also from surrounding villages.
Turkish security forces are allowing the refugees to cross, but they were forced to also battle protestors who had gathered near the border. In doing so, Turkey may be trying to keep fighters from entering Syria, particularly those associated with Kurdish guerilla group, the Kurdistan Workers Party or P.K.K.
The accounts from the Syrian witnesses are similar to those reported in Iraq when militants attacked Yazidi and Christian towns in the north. The militants appear to be slaughtering many people. There are also reports of missing or kidnapped Kurds. Although the Kurds are predominantly Sunni, ISIS/DAASH still considers them apostates, and a Kurdish politician from Turkey called the attacks "genocide." The Peshmerga Ministry has promised to help, but their members are locked in fighting ISIS/DAASH back in Iraq.
Anbar Province:
Security operations were launched to help trapped troops at a besieged army base in al-Sijr near Saqlawiya, but Baghdad lost contact with some of the soldiers after at least five suicide bombers attacked. The base was running low on ammunition and supplies, including water and reinforcements were being sent to aide them. Multiple forces arrived in the last day, including volunteer units. Military spokesman Qassem Atta said the troops were being supported with U.S. airstrikes. One strike killed at least 13 militants. At least seven more were killed in another. After reinforcements opened a route for the soldiers, small groups attempted to retreat. Some of these men may be missing. At least four soldiers were killed and 20 more were wounded.
Elsewhere:
U.S. airstrikes are taking place in the Tikrit region. North of there at Camp Speicher, U.S. cargo planes were seen delivering supplies. The camp is being repurposed as a forward operating base. Seven women and children were killed in a rocket attack. Clashes left seven volunteers dead and three wounded. Thirteen militants were killed near the university.
In Baghdad, mortars killed six people, including a 12-year-old boy, and wounded 17 more in the suburb of Sabaa al-Bour. A bomb in Shabb killed four and wounded 11 more. Three people were killed and seven more were wounded by a blast in Bayaa. Gunmen killed a policeman.
Rockets killed seven civilians and wounded 12 more in Falluja.
Seven civilians were executed in Mosul. Militants assassinated a tribal leader.
Clashes near Muqdadiya left four security personnel dead and 14 more wounded. About 25 militants were killed.
A roadside bomb wounded three family members in Tuz. A rocket attack wounded six security personnel.
Clashes in Sensl left three security members dead and nine wounded.
Militants chased people from the homes in Ishaqi.
In Kirkuk, militants kidnapped 10 men who were former policemen or Sahwa members.
In Jurf al-Sakhar, 25 militants were killed.
Eighteen militants were killed in the Hamrin area.
Airstrikes and security forces killed 15 militants in Ain Layla.
U.S. airstrikes in Sinjar killed a number of militants.
Several militants were killed in Jalawla.
