Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has asked the political blocs in parliament and other social leaders to nominate technocrats for a new cabinet he plans on forming. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s followers demonstrated in Baghdad, calling for such reforms, but some demonstrators were disappointed that the prime minister is asking for names from politicians. The reforms are, ostensibly, to eliminate corruption within government.
The United Kingdom is deploying 30 more military trainers to Iraq, bringing to the number of U.K. troops there to over 300.
Iraqi commanders are apparently making plans for U.S. troops to participate in a future operation against Mosul. Though the troops would not fight, they would be in harm’s way.
The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees warned that internally displaced Iraqis are having their movements curtailed. Of particular concern are those residing in Camp Nazwara. The refugees are being forced to remain there despite nearby chemical attacks.
Residents of Tuz Khormato are building walls between neighborhoods to tamp down on sectarian violence.
Accusations against Shi’ite militiamen continue in Diyala province, where scores of Sunni families are trying to find refuge from their attacks.
At least 49 were killed and 171 were wounded or sickened:
A three-year-old girl died of complications after being exposed to a chemical agent in Taza two days ago. The number of people affected by the chemical attack now stands at 200, which is up from 40 sickened.
Eleven security personnel were killed and two were wounded in a militant attack on Sheikhan.
A suicide attack on Sinjar left five Peshmerga dead and three wounded.
In Mosul, militants executed three Kurdish men and 15 of their own.
A roadside bomb targeting a convoy transporting a Shi’ite militia leader exploded in Baghdad, killing two people and wounding six more.
Security forces killed six militants in Garma.
Airstrikes killed five militants in Kubeisa, including their wali.
