Iraq tribesmen clash with Al Qaeda gunmen

Fierce clashes erupted in Al Sakhriya region located between Anbar Province and Karbala between tribesmen and Al Qaeda gunmen. Two Al Qaeda gunmen and six tribesmen were killed while tens others were wounded. Observers noted that Al Qaeda gunmen took advantage of the absence of security forces in this region to regain sway. However, tribes have started deployment in the region launching a wide scale campaign after Al Qaeda started to displace families living therein.
In a related context, head of the awakening council in Diyala, Mulla Shhab Al Safi, reported that security forces have raided his house and arrested his brother and his father in Bahriz village in southern Baaquba as he told Reuters that he wasn’t home during the incident. Al Safi noted that leaders have been subject to arrests lately while the government is not committing to its vows. He added that security forces have raided the house of awakening councils’ regional spokesman Laith Saleh and beat him before arresting him.