Militants Back in Baiji Refinery; 139 Killed across Iraq

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi will be meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday. One of the topics may be the delivery of 36 F-16 fighter jets that were purchased by Iraq. The war with the Islamic State militants delayed that delivery. An anonymous official now says that the jets will arrive this summer, but the Pentagon has not commented on that timeline. In any case, the premier is likely to ask for more support.

A mass grave containing about 200 bodies was found near Qaim. These may be part of a group of recently executed civilians and security personnel. At least 139 were killed and 46 were wounded.

There are reports that the militants have retaken Baiji refinery. Although it is believed that the militants were only aiming to divert attention from Anbar to Baiji, their capture of the refinery would be a serious setback. At least six suicide bombers were killed in the area.

A special group in the Iraqi forces returned to Albu Farah on Monday to reengage the militants. The Golden Force, which is an ethnically diverse unit, killed 60 militants.

In Baghdad, a blast in the Amil neighborhood killed four people and wounded 19 more. Two people were killed and eight were wounded in Karrada. Three militants were killed.

Four Peshmerga were wounded and thirty militants were killed in Harden.

Militants killed six policemen in Qadisiya.

Four militiamen were executed, possibly near Kirkuk.

Twelve militants were killed in Tikrit.

Airstrikes in Hawija killed 10 militants and wounded 15 more.

Two militants were killed in Garma.

Dozens of militants were killed in Qayara.

Author: Margaret Griffis

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