Meanwhile in Baghdad, hundreds of residents took to the streets of the Amil district to protest a series of U.S.-led raids and a spike in bombing attacks.

Demonstrator Sayyid Nefea al-Bakhati: “(We are here) to protest against the daily raids in the Amil district, Bayaa and all areas of al-Karkh by U.S. troops, and against the mortar attacks against all areas of al-Karkh. We called on substituting the Peshmerga forces with other army commando forces because they will do their job better. There is no mean of communication.”