Pilgrims commemorating the death of Imam Ali al-Hadi were targeted in northern Iraq today. Also, Human Rights Watch called on Iraq to provide safe passage to residents of Anbar who wish to flee to safer areas and to provide those who stay with humanitarian aid. HRW interviewees said, among other things, that they witnessed government soldiers shoot fleeing civilians and steal aid.
In Anbar:
Two people were killed during a bombing attack in Falluja. The Falluja Educational Hospital reported that 267 dead and 1,230 wounded were brought in due to military operations over the last four months. Six militants were killed and seven more were wounded in military operations.
Six militants were killed while trying to enter Iraq from Syria.
In Ramadi, three militants were killed.
Elsewhere:
Gunmen killed eight pilgrims and wounded 15 more near Balad. In a separate shooting, one pilgrim was killed and five more were wounded. A suicide bomber killed four people and wounded five more.
Eight soldiers were wounded and four militants were killed in a clash in Jurf al-Sakhar. Shelling wounded four soldiers at a checkpoint.
In nearby Fadhiliya, the bodies of five soldiers who disappeared several days ago were found.
Gunmen killed four Sahwa members at a Tarmiya checkpoint; another seven people were wounded.
Three soldiers and their driver were shot dead in Baiji.
Mortars left one person dead and nine more wounded in Samarra.
In Mosul, gunmen killed a mokhtar. A civilian was shot dead.
Two policemen were wounded in a clash in Shura.
In Baquba, a bomb wounded two policemen.
Security forces killed a suicide bomber targeting pilgrims in al-Jazira.
