Updated at 11:21 p.m. EDT, June 24, 2010
The formation of the new government came across a new roadblock, this one over the failure of two large Shi’ite groups to compromise on the selection of the next prime minister. This new delay could mean further destabilization of Iraq’s fragile security gains. At least 24 Iraqis were killed and 33 more were wounded in attacks that targeted security personnel. Also, Gen. David Petraeus, who once commanded American forces in Iraq, is now in charge of operations in Afghanistan.
Light violence left four Iraqis killed and eight more wounded, but a guerilla war on Iraq’s northern border could be intensifying. The lack of a stable government following March elections has left Iraq unable to properly deal with events on its northern flank and forced Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to criticize Iraq’s regional neighbors for meddling in Iraqi politics.
Updated at 11:43 p.m. EDT, June 22, 2010
At least 14 Iraqis were killed and 42 more were wounded in the latest attacks. A U.S. soldier also died in a non-combat incident. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is considering accepting the resignation of his electricity minister, but he also praised his designee Karim Waleed and said Iraqis should expect more years of disrupted power service even if Waleed resigns.
Updated at 7:50 p.m. EDT, June 21, 2010
At least one Iraqi was killed and 39 more were wounded in the latest violence. Rioting over power cuts spread to Nasariya were residents attacked police guarding the province’s government compound. Electricity Minister Karim Waheed was forced to resign. Also, Turkish troops are amassing at the border during operations against the PKK.
Updated at 6:49 p.m. EDT, June 20, 2010
At least 58 Iraqis were killed and 98 more were wounded mostly in Baghdad and Tikrit. Turkish troops also struck in northern Iraq where civilians were among the casualties. Meanwhile, an American-born al-Qaeda spokesman repeated the group’s demands, which include the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
Updated at 11:28 p.m. EDT, June 19, 2010
Violence in Iraq tapered off significantly today, but at least six Iraqis were killed and 16 more wounded in new attacks. Meanwhile, tensions at the Turkish border revved up after more PKK strikes. Also, Iraqiya leader Ayad Allawi said that Iraqi and U.S. sources warned him of assassination attempts. The Department of Defense reported on Thursday’s non-combat death of a U.S. soldier in Mosul as well.
Updated at 7:40 p.m. EDT, June 18, 2010 At least 46 Iraqis were killed and 114 were wounded in a series of significant attacks across the country. Most casualties were from two bombings north of Baghdad, but some smaller attacks were striking in their savagery. Meanwhile, the United Nations is investigating claims that Iraqi asylum seekers were mistreated before being deported back to Iraq, where the refugee problem remains discouraging.
At least nine Iraqis were killed and eight more were wounded in the latest violence. Hundreds of Kurds, however, have been forced to leave their homes because of shelling from Iranian troops. Also, dozens of people were accidentally poisoned in Baghdad.
At least eight Iraqis were killed and 39 more were wounded in attacks mostly within Mosul and Baghdad. Activity between Turkish troops and PKK rebels is increasing on the border with Turkey where at least eight have died there and four more were wounded in today’s attacks.
At least 15 Iraqis were killed and 22 more were wounded. Also, a U.S. soldier died of non-combat wounds. Meanwhile, the Kurdish Autonomous Region’s prime minister, Barham Saleh, said that the Kurds would not support the new government without guarantees being made.
