The Pentagon is finalizing plans to deploy more American ground forces to support the Iraqi army’s offensive to seal off and retake the Islamic State stronghold in Mosul, top defense officials said. – Military Times
A Marine artillery unit in northern Iraq has continued to come under sporadic attack while supporting Iraqi troops since Staff Sgt. Louis F. Cardin was killed eight and others were wounded on March 19 by ISIS rocket fire, a top coalition commander said Thursday. – Military.com
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has named 14 new cabinet ministers who he said are the kinds of policy experts protesters have been demanding for months to fight corruption in the government. – Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Iraq's prime minister proposed a new Cabinet lineup to the country's lawmakers on Thursday, after weeks of pressure from supporters of a radical Shiite cleric who have staged rallies in the Iraqi capital and a sit-in next to the government headquarters to demand reforms. – Associated Press
Tens of thousands of trapped civilians have stalled Iraqi forces fighting the Islamic State group in the country's western Anbar province, the spokesman for Iraq's elite counterterrorism forces told the Associated Press Friday. – Associated Press