Government forces could be nearing their goal of liberating Tikrit, which would be a great psychological win, if true. At least 197 were killed and 37 more were wounded across Iraq.
Politics:
In what may only be a temporary win, the Supreme Court said the Kurdish Regional Government may continue selling oil.
The K.A.R. is quickly training fresh Peshmerga fighters to protect the region from the ISIS/DAASH threat, but also to maintain control of territorial gains.
Russia wants a U.N. ban on oil from occupied Iraq.
Over 1,200 Chinese workers were moved from Samarra to Baghdad.
Several places of worship have been destroyed in the Mosul region, and other important sites and items are under extra protection.
The internal refugee problem continues to grow across the country.
Witnesses describe some of the horrors they have seen at the hands of the militants.
Fighting:
Security forces logged successes in Tikrit. State TV reported that they drove militants out of central Tikrit, including government buildings and major streets. At least 60 militants were killed, including senior leaders, and many of the wounded were being evacuated. The militants claimed to have destroyed at least eight Iraqi tanks, but the military did not report any casualties. Witnesses said the offensive was stalled by evening.
The city was emptied of civilians in the last three days, due to fears of air strikes and clashes. Some also fear revenge attacks by Shi’ite militiamen working with the Iraqi military.
Clashes killed 20 security personnel and wounded 22 more near Hilla.
In Ramadi, a roadside bomb killed nine SWAT members, while mortars killed nine civilians.
Four security members were killed and eight were wounded in a mortar attack on Jurf al-Sakhar.
In Baghdad, four gunmen were killed. Mortars fell in Sabaa al-Bour, where they killed four people; at least four others were wounded. In outlying areas, 11 militants were killed.
Two civilians were killed during a mortar attack in Samarra.
Gunmen in Muqdadiya killed two civilians riding in a mini-bus.
Ten militants were killed in Abbasi.
Security forces in Saqlawiya killed 10 gunmen.
The Peshmerga killed three militants in Jalawla. Three Peshmerga members were wounded.
Five militants were killed in Falluja.
In Mansouriya, security forces killed a Naqshabandiya Army commander and several other militants.
According to residents in Mosul, Iraq forces bombed a commercial area of no known strategic value. Militants blew up mosques. Tribesmen killed militant leader and five followers.
Iraqi forces killed 37 militants and took back three small villages in the Qaim district: Saada, al-Rummana and al-Obaidi
Dozens of militants were killed in Mkeshiefa, near Tikrit.
In the Syrian border town of Albu Kamal, Syrian rebels and al-Qaeda launched an operation against the ISIS/DAASH militants. This town is just on the other side of the border from Qaim. Militants have long used it as a stopover on their way to Iraq. Should this town be taken from ISIS, it could thwart some of their plans for Iraq.
ISIS/DAASH militants are attempting to shore up their control of the former "Triangle of Death" just south of Baghdad. The area is home to many Sunnis. Strategically, it allows the militants to undertake attacks on a major supply route into Baghdad.
