At least 94 people were killed today, including a number of militiamen killed in friendly fire. Another 93 were wounded.
Although it has already provided advisors and other support to Iraq, Iran warned that it will conduct its own strikes deep within Iraq if the border if threatened. Islamic State militants have gained territory close to Iran in Diyala province, just south of official Kurdish territory. It is a weak spot in Iraq’s defenses likely because of the significant proportion of Kurds in Diyala. Peshmerga fighters and Shi’ite militiamen have both been deployed there to fight ISIS/DAASH, but the militiamen have also attacked Sunni civilians and are unwelcome by the many who fear them.
Several Shi’ite militias and the Iraqi army say they have completed taking back an area near Muqdadiya. Many militants have died over the last several days, but seven were reported killed today. An exact count of anti-militants forces was not given, but at least 12 militiamen were reported buried in Najaf on Thursday as the result of this battle. The operation freed a dam from the militants’ grip. The Iraqi government has been reluctant to reveal the true number of forces killed, but ritual body washers in Najaf have been very busy.
Eight militiamen were killed and 13 more were wounded when Iraqi forces accidentally bombed them in Ouja.
In Tikrit, shelling killed five women and eight children, while wounding four others.
A bomb in Mahmoudiya killed 10 people and wounded 24 more.
Nine volunteer fighters were killed at the Baiji Refinery when two bombs exploded.
In Tuz, a bomb near a sports field killed three people and wounded 10 more.
Two soldiers were killed and five more were wounded by a roadside blast in Tarmiya.
Gunmen killed two Kurdish policemen in Jammin.
In Baquba, two separate bombs wounded seven people.
A bomb wounded three civilians in Khanaqin.
One person was wounded during a roadside bombing in Karbala.
In Mosul, U.S. airstrikes killed 25 militants and wounded 26 more in an eastern area. Seven more were killed in a southern part of the city. Six were killed in the western fringes.
Airstrikes in Gwer killed 16 militants.
In Jurf al-Sakhar, 12 militants were killed.
In an orchard near Baghdad, security forces killed eight militants.
Six militants were killed in an airstrike near Kirkuk.
Four militants were killed in Rutba.
Security forces killed three militants in Garma.
A suicide bomber was killed near the Adhaim Dam before he could harm anyone.
A number of militants were killed in al-Fayed.
