418 Killed as Security Forces Capture Several Towns in Northern Iraq

U.S. military officials revised the estimated number of Islamic State militants in Mosul to between 3,000 and 5,000 in the city. Another 1,000 to 2,000 militants may be operating in the outlying areas.Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and Iraq special forces are close to liberating Bashiqa if they have not already. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım claimed that Turkish firepower was used during operations in Bashiqa. Turkey has a small group of soldiers illegally stationed nearby, that has been the source of much friction between Baghdad and Ankara.

At least 25 Peshmerga have been killed, and many more of them have been wounded since operations on Mosul began. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter was in Erbil to meet with Kurdish President Masoud Barzani on Sunday.

At least 418people were killed and 100 were wounded:

Forty civilians were executed in Jayef, Kabiba, Mukhalat, and Qaragosh (Hamdaniya). Troops had liberated the towns, but no personnel were left behind to guard the residents. The victims were reportedly slaughtered for celebrating their emancipation.

Three suicide bombers attacked Rutba in Anbar province, where they killed at least seven policemen. Tribal fighters fought off about 30 militants who tried to take over the town.

At least 100 Peshmerga have been treated at one hospital in Erbil.

Security forces killed 124 militants near the Mosul Dam and Tal Keif.

Eighty-eight militants were killed in the towns of Abu Fshka, Ain, Akhwina, Safina, Shk, Sufla, and Uliya villages

In the towns of Asfyia, Harara, Rasif, Shwirat, and Twiba, security forces killed 51 militants.

Police in Shura killed 36 militants.

Security forces killed at least 34 militants while liberating the towns of Adala, Blawat, Ibrahim Khalil, and Kani Harami.

Although journalists are not yet allowed in Bashiqa, one reported seeing three suicide bombers killed. Officials reported that five militant leaders were killed, including a commander.

In Hammam al-Alil, an airstrike killed eight militants.

Seven militants were executed on desertion charges for leaving Mosul.

Five militants were killed in Daquq.

An airstrike on Tal Afar left five militants dead.

In Kirkuk, security forces killed one militant while another blew himself up.

Author: Margaret Griffis

Margaret Griffis is a journalist from Miami Beach, Florida and has been covering Iraqi casualties for Antiwar.com since 2006.