Secretary of State John Kerry officially declared that the Islamic State is committing genocide in Iraq and Syria. Their targets are Christians, Shi’ite Muslims and, in particular, Yazidis. The declaration is mostly symbolic and is not likely to affect the U.S.’s legal obligations in the region.
Shi’ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is going ahead with plans for a massive sit-in on Friday, despite pleas from politicians to cancel it. He told his followers to refrain from violence and disobedience. Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry issued a statement saying that it has not authorized the sit-in but did not elaborate on whether there will be arrests. Security forces have been deployed.
At least 144 were killed and nine were wounded:
Militants executed six men in Falluja for handing over information to security forces.
A bomb killed one person and wounded seven in Husseiniya.
In Mosul, militants executed an imam.
A clash in Rabaa left one Peshmerga member dead. A militant was also killed, and two more were wounded.
In Muhammadi, airstrikes left 57 militants dead, while security forces killed another 21 in combat.
Peshmerga forces killed over 20 militants in Dibs.
In Saqlawiya, missile strikes left 20 militants dead.
Eight militants were killed in Rashid.
Four suicide bombers were killed in Saniya.
In Zab, unidentified gunmen killed three militants.
Security forces killed a militant leader in the Makhoul Mountains.
