The Iraqi Supreme Court on Monday issued an order suspending the Kurdish independence referendum. Separately, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi formally demanded the Kurds to call it off. It is unclear if either will have any effect as Kurdish President Masoud Barzani has said previously that the referendum will take place unless an acceptable alternative is produced.
Meanwhile, Turkey conducted military drills at the border, apparently trying to intimidate the Kurdistan Regional Government. And, Turkish jets conducted one of their frequent bombing raids against Kurdistan Workers Party (P.K.K.) targets in northern Iraq. A convoy of Shi’ite militia forces also entered Kirkuk for what they say is activities unrelated to the referendum.
Iraqi authorities are holding a total of 2,897 women and children belonging to Islamic State families near Tal Afar.
Security forces are approaching Anah. An operation was launched near Dujail.
At least 17 people were killed and five more were wounded:
In Kirkuk, a group of people celebrating the upcoming referendum got into an altercation outside a Turkmen political headquarters, and someone shot at them. One Kurd was killed and two more were wounded. A Turkmen security guard was also wounded.
The bodies of a man and woman were found beheaded in Mosul.
In Baghdad, a sticky bomb on a taxi killed a policeman in Husseiniyat al-Rashidiya. Two soldiers were wounded in a blast in Muhaisen.
Militants executed four leaders for fleeing Anah.
One leader and three militants were killed in an airstrike near the Makhoul Mountains.
In Khemisiyat, three militants were killed during an operation.
An airstrike on Qaim killed a militant commander.
A strike killed a leader in Shirqat.
