Several nations expressed their plans to fight the Islamic State today. This came as ISIS/DAASH made gains in Syria. Back in Iraq, a coordinated bombing spree near an important shrine in Baghdad left dozens hurt or killed. Clashes and strikes against the militants also continued. Across the country, at least 195 were killed and 173 more were wounded.
The U.S. Senate approved a plan to arm and train Syria rebels in the fight against Islamic State militants. Meanwhile, France has agreed to conduct airstrikes in Iraq, but it will not send ground troops, nor will it conduct strikes in Syria. Separately, Belgium said it could offer troops and fighter jets to Iraq if formally asked, and Spain confirmed it will send Patriot missiles to Turkey. Also, the Netherlands offered the use of F-16 jets.
Syrian Kurds called on Turkish Kurds to flow south to fight the Islamic State. In the last day, 21 villages were claimed by the militants while on their way to attack the city of Ayn al-Arab (Kobane in Kurdish). Even the Kurdistan Workers Party (P.K.K.) has been asked to help, as the Kurds in Syria are poorly supported by the world community. As occurred in northern Iraq, many are said to have been massacred, while the women were kidnapped. Three thousand refugees from the area are waiting at the Turkish border to cross to safety.
Anbar province’s governor, Atheel al-Nujaifi, pushed for a new "national guard" plan that could assuage Sunni fears of abuse perpetrated by soldiers in the Iraqi Army. Each province would have control of such troops, but questions remain unanswered with the plan, and many think it will fail.
In Baghdad, a coordinated attack struck the Kadhimiya and Tobchi districts. A suicide bomber and two blasts were followed by gunfire and shelling. At least 23 people were killed and more than 50 were wounded. Separately, a bomb at a repair garage killed three and wounded 11 more. Two policemen were killed and four were wounded in a roadside blast. Three people were killed during shelling in a southern neighborhood.
At least four people were killed and 20 were wounded, many of them women and children, during shelling in Falluja.
In Tuz, six dumped bodies were found.
In Daquq, clashes left four civilians and two militants dead. Two more militants were wounded.
Clashes in Duluiya left 23 militants and a soldier dead. Five militants and four tribesmen were wounded.
In villages near Mansouriya, 20 militants and two ISIS/DAASH leaders were killed during clashes. Snipers wounded three security members.
Airstrikes on a training camp killed 59 militants and wounded 79 more in Hammam al-Alil.
Twenty militants were killed in Tikrit.
In Rutba, an airstrike left 10 militants dead.
Seven militants were killed near the Haditha Dam.
Many militants were killed during operations in Ishaqi.
