In other Iraq news, Sunni leaders are accusing the U.S. military of carrying out an attack in the town of Ishaqi that killed 17 civilians, including six women and five children. The U.S. military maintained that the attack killed 20 suspected al-Qaeda militants.

Adnan al-Dulami, leader of the Iraqi Accordance Front: “The American forces attacked Ishaqi and killed innocent people, claiming that they were terrorists. We call on the American forces to check beforehand and avoid resorting to excessive force or attacking and killing the innocent. What has happened in Ishaqi is a tragedy and a catastrophe.”