After completing the security cordon around Mosul, Shi’ite militiamen and Kurdish troops have agreed to plan future operations together. This could alleviate fears that the militiamen are going to enter Tal Afar and attack Sunni Turkmen residing there. On Thursday, a coalition of political parties, the Iraqi Turkmen Front stressed that there is a grave risk in allowing the militias into the city.
Recovered in Mosul on Thursday were the neighborhoods of Amn, Qahira, and Green Apartments. Khadraa was retaken too, as was partially built hospital. Also reported liberated is Zohour. The last bridge crossing the Tigris River was destroyed in airstrikes as well. Strategists are now reconsidering their earlier advice to Mosul residents to shelter-in-place as opposed to fleeing the city.
At least 114 were killed and 103 were wounded:
A suicide truck bomber killed at least 100 people, mostly Arbaeen pilgrims, at a petrol station/restaurant in the village of Shomali, which is 75 miles (120 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad and near Hilla. A figure of over 100 wounded is also being reported. Many of the victims are believed to be Iranians or Afghanis who are residing in Iran.
At a dilapidated home west of Mosul, a family of six was executed. According to reports, the family included a man who was a close confidant of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Three children were also killed.
In Mosul, resistance fighters killed a Daesh executioner. An explosion in Khadraa killed or wounded a number of security personnel.
A explosives expert was killed in Anbar province while attempting to defuse a bomb.
A bomb in Azariya wounded three Peshmerga, including an officer.
Five militants were killed and three were wounded in an airstrike on Sakra.
