At least 110 people were killed and 15 more were wounded.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi revealed that 50,000 “ghost soldiers” were on the military payroll.
Iraqi analysts believe that even with U.S. help, the fight against ISIS/DAASH militants will be hampered by continued sectarian divides.
In Kirkuk, Kurdish officials have rejected the formation of national guard units for the city, citing tensions. A Turkmen member of the municipal council, however, questioned the Kurds’ opposition and declared his support for the units. A Christian council member said that the city already has its own security force, while Sunni leaders admitted they would wait to see how the units are structured. The national guard would be made up entirely of locals but under the direction of Baghdad.
A major battle is underway in Dujail.
The Albu Nimr tribe said they purchased $900,000 worth of weapons in order to protect themselves in Anbar province.
A bomb in Samarra killed six civilians and wounded several more. Mortars killed an unspecified number of civilians.
Militants executed three members of the al-Jabour tribe in Nineveh province.
Two volunteers were killed and seven more were wounded during fighting in Ishaqi. Fifteen militants were killed.
In Falluja, explosions wounded six people.
A clash in Jalawla left two volunteers wounded and one militant dead.
Security forces, including members of the al-Jabour tribe, killed 19 militants and wounded many more, in Duluiya.
In Tikrit, 12 militants were killed near the university.
Airstrikes in Qaim killed 12 militants.
Eleven militants were killed in airstrikes in Qayara.
Security forces killed eight militants in Ramadi.
Seven militants were killed in Kubaisa.
Seven militants were killed in al-Haouz.
In Baghdad, three militants were killed in separate locations. Four more were killed in Zaidan.
