US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter admitted that the Iraqi government forces lack the will to fight as evidenced by the rout in Ramadi. Despite outnumbering the Islamic State militants, Iraqi personnel abandoned their posts in the city, leaving the job to Shi’ite militiamen. Hakim al-Zamili, the head of the parliamentary defense and security committee, criticized the observation and blamed the failure on the United States for not providing adequate support. According to Kurdish commanders, however, Iraqi Special Forces left two days before the militants launched their attack.
At least 133 were killed and 31 were wounded:
Two fighters were killed in a clash between Kurdish rebel groups in Kelashin, on the Iranian border. Members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (P.K.K.) believe that the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (K.D.P.I.) group is seeking to establish bases in the Qandil Mountains. A source at the K.D.P.I said the deployment of their forces was related to recent protests in Iran. Another source said that the clashes were occurring in Iranian territory. The P.K.K. say that the territory has been traditionally theirs, but the K.D.P.I promise they will not be forced out. There may be more casualties occurring. The Kurdish Parliament has ordered the two groups to cease fighting.
Militants executed 16 traders near Haditha. The men were transporting foodstuffs between Baiji and Haditha and were stopped at a checkpoint.
In Mosul, militants executed two government employees. Airstrikes left 70 militants dead and 15 wounded.
At least 14 people were wounded during a series of bomb attacks in Baquba and Balad Ruz.
A bomb in Abu Saida wounded two people.
In Khafsa, 23 militants were killed.
At least 20 suicide bombers were involved in an extensive attack on al-Baghdadi.
Airstrikes killed many militants in Khazir.
