Peshmerga forces said they have entered the city of Sinjar, where they are encountering only light resistance. Still, they are proceeding slowly to avoid booby-traps. Separately, the evacuation of the remaining 10,000 or so Yazidis who fled to Mount Sinjar after the region was invaded by the Islamic State militants has begun. They are being transported off the mountain in cars and driven to Dohuk. There are reports of infighting between groups fighting in the area, including the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Yazidi YBS militia group, which opened a second route up the mountain. A mass grave containing 70 Yazidis was discovered.
Shi’ite militiamen appear to be deserting their voluntary positions in their makeshift army due to a lack of supplies, primarily food. The militiamen were called to fight the ISIS/DAASH after the Iraqi army itself fell apart in the invasion. Shi’ite leaders are asking the faithful to donate money and food to the cause.
Security forces repelled militants near the town of al-Baghdadi. There are reports that U.S. troops stationed at the Ein al-Asad base were involved in the fighting. This is the second time this week that U.S. troops were reported fighting near the base. The number of casualties was not released.
At least 166 were killed and 37 were wounded.
Militants captured Albu Aifan near Duluiya, killing two security members and wounding three more. They later blew up two homes, where 17 people were killed, including children.
A bomb in Madaen killed four people and wounded nine.
Three people were killed and 11 were wounded by a blast in Taji.
In Baghdad, a bomb killed one person and wounded five more. Three soldiers were killed and six were wounded in a western suburb.
An education official was shot and wounded in Zubayr.
In Sensl, an airstrike left 27 militants dead.
Twenty-two militants were killed in Baiji.
An airstrike killed 13 militants near Yathrib.
In Arab Jabour, two militants were killed and two more were wounded.
Security forces killed a Palestinian member of ISIS/DAASH in Ninewa province.
A militant was killed in Daquq.
Many militants were killed in Haditha.
