Satellite images have confirmed the demolition of Iraq’s oldest Christian monastery, near Mosul. The sixth-century building, Monastery of St. Elijah, is believed to have been demolished late in 2014.
According to Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren, the eventual battle to recover Mosul from Daesh will require hundreds of extra “trainers” before it can be launched.
Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter claims that over 6,000 Daesh have been killed in the last three months in Iraq and Syria.
The U.S. government has tentatively approved the sale of smart bombs, AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles, and other munitions to the Iraqi military.
The local government in Tuz Khormato has decided to evict both Kurdish Peshmerga and Shi’ite militia forces. The presence of the rival forces has created instability in the city, which is suffering from sectarian tensions.
At least 89 were killed and nine were wounded:
The U.S. military has admitted to civilian casualties in a Coalition strike on a money collection center in Mosul. Fewer than 10 civilians were killed. Militants executed nine of their combatants.
In Baghdad, a bomb killed two people and wounded five more at an Obeidi market. A bomb in Arab Jabour left one person dead and one wounded. A sticky bomb wounded an employee of the Ministry of Electricity.
A civilian was shot dead in Taji.
Airstrikes north of Ramadi left 34 militants dead.
Twenty militants were killed during airstrikes on Qaim.
In Layin, airstrikes killed eight militants.
Five militants were killed and two more were wounded in Garma.
