ISIS Fleeing Shirqat; 65 Killed in Iraq

According to residents of Mosul, Islamic State
militants have been readying
for eventual battle with Iraqi forces. Among various preparations, ISIS/Daesh
has been digging tunnels and moats, installing oil tanks in residential areas
to prevent air strikes, and sealing off neighborhoods.

South of Mosul, army and tribal forces began
their operation to recover Shirqat, which they believe is necessary
ahead of the attempt on Mosul. Several villages in the area have already
been taken back, and Daesh leaders reportedly fled
to Hawija with their families. Also, Joint Operations Command spokesman Yahya
Rasool said that tribal forces, not Shi’ite militiamen, were in on the
maneuvers.

Security forces also launched operations
in Jazirat al-Baghdadi and Jazirat Haditha.

At least 65 were killed and 37 were wounded:

Turkish forces shelled Kurdistan Workers Party
(P.K.K.) locations in northern Iraq, killing
four guerillas and wounding a fifth one
. The attack also caused
material damage to civilian properties.

In Mosul, militants using welding tools executed
six boys
. A woman
was stoned to death
after being accused of fornication. Three
young men were whipped
for playing soccer. A strike killed a militant leader
and several aides. Four
militants were killed
in another strike.

In Baghdad, a bomb near a Bayaa market left one
dead and five wounded
. A coffee shop was blow up, but no
casualties
were reported.

Clashes in Kazakh left six
Peshmerga and eight militants dead
.

Militants in Baaj killed
four former army personnel
and blew up a mosque.

One
civilian was killed and 22 were wounded
when they came across bombs in
al-Mar’i. The five families involved were fleeing Hawija.

A roadside bomb in Bashir killed
a Turkmen fighter and wounded three more
.

Three
policemen were wounded
in a roadside bombing in Jurf al-Sakhar.

Security forces killed
22 militants
near Barwana.

Peshmerga forces bombed Bashiqa and Tal Keif, killing
six militants
.

A strike on Qaim killed
or wounded
21 militants.

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