Following the release of the Chilcot report, British politicians began expressing their opinions on the Iraq War. Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott says he now believes the war was illegal and admits his own culpability in the matter. Separately, Philip Hammond, U.K. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, blamed the removal of Ba’ath Party supporters from the Iraqi Army for the rise of the Islamic State militancy. The 2003 plan left tens of thousands of soldiers unemployed.
The International Monetary Fund has outlined a $5.3 billion loan program for cash-strapped Iraq. The loan comes with conditions that include social spending and corruption eradication.
In response to the Karrada bombing, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi fired three security officials, including Baghdad Operations Command Lieutenant General Abdulamir al-Shimmari. The two other officials were not named, but their posts were revealed. One was the head of intelligence in Baghdad for the Interior Ministry. The other worked at the national security adviser’s office.
Now that Fallujah has been liberated the delicate process of rebuilding society there can begin. Tikrit, which was liberated last year, might serve as both a good and bad example. Unfortunately, Shi’ite militias, already accused of war crimes, have been reported as destroying mosques in Fallujah.
Iraqi forces supported by Coalition strikes entered the airbase at Qayara. Militants were said to have fled the base as the troops arrived. Should security forces be able to maintain control of the strategic base, it could be used as a launching point for operations against Mosul. Troops had been attempting to reach the base from the east but were halted by intense fighting. A new push from the south appears to have had better traction.
At least five people were killed and two more were wounded. Due to the Eid al-Fitr observances, reports are few:
Militants executed three brothers in Riyadh.
In Dibs, two people were killed and two others were wounded during a home invasion. One of the dead was a mukhtar.
