The unstable Mosul Dam became the focus of international diplomacy this week when U.S. President Barack Obama spoke with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi about ongoing negotiations to repair the dam. The danger that the poorly constructed dam would collapse and drown cities downstream, including Baghdad, existed prior to the Islamic State militants taking over the dam last year. They were ousted promptly, but their brief presence stopped important maintenance work, causing escalating instability. Current negotiations concern both resuming maintenance work and protecting the workers.
U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Stuart Jones denied the United States has been conducting helicopter raids in Iraq. Who has been conducting them is the cause of much speculation.
At least 107 were killed and 29 were wounded:
An Iraqi drone apparently mistook Shi’ite militiamen for enemy combatants near Camp Speicher. Nine militiamen were killed and 14 were wounded.
In Mosul, militants killed five civilians by crushing them under a bulldozer. A strike killed 14 militants, including a wali.
Gunmen killed three people and wounded two children in Jbela.
A bomb in Husseiniya killed one person and wounded eight more.
Mortars wounded four civilians in Abu Ghraib.
In Baghdad, gunmen killed a government employee.
Tribal gunmen wounded the police chief of Qurna.
Airstrikes on Makhmour killed 43 militants.
A dozen militants were killed during operations in Barwana.
In Hawija, seven militants were killed.
Security forces killed four militants in Albu Aitha.
Unidentified gunmen in Qayara killed four militants, including an official.
In Husayba, three suicide bombers were killed.
A suicide bomber was killed in the Makhoul Mountains.
Dozens of militants have been killed or wounded during relentless airstrikes on the Khazar front.
