Protests resumed again in several cities on Friday. The protest in Baghdad may have been the biggest one yet this year thanks to participation by Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s followers. Essentially, demonstrators demanded real change. Some complained that, so far, improvements have been cosmetic. Others showed support for Prime Minster Haider al-Abadi. As part of the reform campaign, however, Abadi ordered access to the Green Zone by ordinary citizens increased. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who has been sympathetic to radical reform, issued a statement. He warned demonstrations to safeguard their movement from outsiders seeking to promote their own agendas.
In northern Iraq, Kurdish fighters liberated seven more villages.
At least 88 were killed and 18 were wounded across Iraq: In Baghdad, a bomb killed six people and wounded 10 more at a police station in Za’afaraniya.
A roadside car bomb targeting North Oil company security personnel in Pajwan killed three personnel and wounded eight more.
Militiamen killed 20 militants near Saniya.
Sixteen militants were killed during airstrikes on the Alas oil field.
In Baiji, 13 militants were killed.
Seven militants were killed in Khalidiya.
Three militants were killed in Garma.
In Husayba, two militants were killed.
In Mosul, a sniper killed a militant leader. The morgue reported handling 17 militant bodies.
