On Monday, Shi’ite militias were gathering at the Habaniya military base, ahead of an assault on the Ramadi. This took place as the Iraqi military were still evacuating personnel from the city. The fall of Ramadi has been a significant setback for the administration of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. He is caught between the demands of Iranian-backed Shi’ites and the Americans who are protective of the Sunnis. Some Sunnis in Anbar are reluctantly admitting that the Shi’ite militiamen may be an improvement compared to Islamic State militants, but many aren’t convinced a “sectarian bloodbath” won’t occur.
At least 55 were killed and five more were wounded:
Ten civilians were killed in Husaybah while trying to defend their village from the militants. The village is just east of Ramadi, and the militants may be trying to reach the Habaniya air base through it.
A double bombing in Baghdad killed five civilians and wounded two more.
Three young men were executed in Mosul.
Militants killed two officers who worked at the Badush prison.
Near Kirkuk, the bodies of two brothers who had been kidnapped together were found.
Three emergency personnel were wounded during a mortar attack on Samarra.
At the Kilo 160 area in Anbar, 25 militants were killed.
Seven militants were killed during an airstrike on Ramadi.
A militant commander was killed in Garma.
