At least 175 people were killed in Iraq today, mostly militants. Another 75 were wounded, mostly civilians in a bombing in southern Baghdad.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi reiterated his insistence that no foreign ground troops will fight in Iraq. Furthermore, despite recognizing a need for foreign air power, Haider does not want jets from neighboring Arab states to join the Coalition jets already conducting air strikes in Iraq. He would prefer they target the Islamic State sites in Syria. Iraq is, however, considering an Australian request to join. Also, 26 Canadian Special Forces advisors arrived in Kurdistan.
Ten Turkomen villages were liberated by the armed forces in Salah ad Din province. Five villages west of Tuz were also freed. At least in Tuz, there appears to be cooperation between the Iraqi Army, volunteer forces and the Peshmerga. The University of Falluja has been cleared of militants as well.
In Baghdad, a car bomb killed 13 people, including four children, and wounded 47 more in the Baghdad al-Jadida neighborhood. A bomb in Awiridj wounded two people. A dumped body was found.
In Duluiya, two children were wounded by mortars. At least 65 militants were killed during a large-scale attack last night and another this morning. Allied forces were backed by fighters from the Jabour Tribe. Seven members were killed and 16 were wounded. An airstrike killed eight militants.
Militants kidnapped a Jabour Tribe leader from his home in Qayara.
In Mosul, militants arrested a doctor and a female deputy attorney.
Security forces killed 30 militants in Tikrit.
An airstrike in Hawija left 13 militants dead and eight wounded.
Security forces, including a tribal brigade, killed 14 militants in Garma, including a man said to be responsible for the kidnapping of soldiers in Saqlawiya recently.
Eleven militants were killed in Albu Sdeifan.
In Ramadi, nine militants were killed in an airstrike as they were trying to attack a security headquarters. Four more died in clashes.
Many militants were killed during clashes in Falluja.
