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On Saturday, June 14, Afghanistan held its second round, run-off presidential election since no presidential candidate was able to secure at least 50 percent of the votes in the first-round election on April 5. In that first contest, the two front-runners, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and Dr. Ashraf Ghani, won 45 percent and 31.56 percent of the vote, respectively.
ISF and ISOF were reportedly heavily deployed around the Green Zone and in strategic areas in Baghdad yesterday in what appeared to be a military coup.
Key Takeaway: Iraq’s incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki maneuvered elite military units in Baghdad overnight on August 10, cutting off entrances to the protected Green Zone, in an effort to secure power by use of force. This is currently serving as a demonstration of force.
The “largest bloc” was not tasked by the Iraqi president to form the government today, missing the deadline that was already extended for three days per a request from the president.
Peshmerga forces clashed heavily with ISIS in the area of Gwer, located 30 miles southwest of Arbil city.
U.S. military engagement against ISIS remains limited.
Within the past 24 hours, ISIS seized Mosul Dam.
ISIS continued a multi-front offensive in Syria.
Changes for August 7 update: ISIS gunmen deployed to the Ninewa Plains, an area that includes many villages that are historically home to a large Iraqi Christian population.
The status of the Mosul Dam remains unclear as reports conflict regarding who controls it.