A helicopter gunship has been downed in al-Anbar Province. Maliki’s office confirmed this incident, yet claimed it was due to technical problems.
According to latest reports, in an attack staged by tribal forces against a base of Maliki’s military forces north of the city of Baquba 13 of these troops were killed and 7 others injured.
Sheikh Rashid al-Khalifawi from the Abu Khalifa tribe in Iraq told Al-Jazeera TV, “Those in Ramadi, Fallujah, Khalediya and al-Anbar are tribal forces commanded by military councils to save cities from militants. We reject the entrance of Maliki’s military personnel to any al-Anbar Province city. A few hours ago Maliki’s Army attacked the city of Khalediya. However, tribal forces stood against them, pushing them back and setting ablaze to one of their vehicles with many others fleeing.”