Updated at 11:30 p.m EST, Dec. 17, 2007
At least 47 Iraqis were killed and 59 more were wounded in the latest round of violence. A bomber tried to collapse a dam in northern Iraq that could have cost the lives of tens of thousands of people downriver. Another bomber in Balad Ruz caused over two dozen casualties. Also, a U.S. soldier died in a non-combat incident at Camp Taji today, and another soldier died yesterday during an event that is under investigation.
In Balad Ruz, a suicide bike bomber killed seven and wounded 24, including children, at a marketplace.
A truck bomb left at the Mosul Dam killed one policeman and wounded four others. An important bridge was destroyed during the incident. The dam had already been declared unstable and should it fail, tens of thousands of people in Mosul and Baghdad would be in danger.
In Baghdad, nine unidentified bodies were found dumped in several neighborhoods. A roadside bomb wounded seven, including four Iraqi soldiers, in Zaafaraniya. A separate bomb killed two and wounded six on Palestine Street. Also, three Iraqi soldiers were killed during security operations that included defusing 37 roadside bombs and detaining 21 gunmen.
Gunmen attacked a Baquba market, where they killed three neighborhood patrolmen and wounded four more. Elsewhere, an IED or gunmen killed a judge in the Hadd Maziad area. Combined U.S. and Iraqi forces arrested 37 suspects. At least two more people were killed in separate shootings and two others died in roadside bombings. Also six dumped bodies were discovered.
Policemen and Awakening Council members clashed near Baiji. Two policemen were killed and four council members were wounded. Awakening councils (neighborhood patrols) are comprised of Sunni tribesmen who have recently joined forces with American troops.
An IED exploded near a U.S. patrol in Mosul. The troops then randomly fired on nearby civilians, killing one and wounding two others, including a woman.
A local leader and his companion were gunned down in front of his home in Jalawla.
Near Basra in Jubilah, gunmen dressed in military garb killed one civilian and wounded two others.
A body was found in the Tharthar region.
A body was found in Dhuluiya.
Mortars fell in Dali Abass, killing one person and injuring four others.
One Iraqi Coast Guard member was killed during a clash with smugglers near the Iranian coast.
In Harunyah, two policemen were injured during a roadside bombing.
Police defused a bomb north of Ramadi in al-Jazeera. No casualties were reported.
A suspected sniper was arrested in Karbala.
Police in Maysan arrested 14 people suspected of participating in a large bombing in Amarah last week.
An unmanned U.S. aerial vehicle crashed near Muqdadiyah causing no casualties.
Also, the head of the Salah ad Din Awakening Council was arrested for various offences including blackmail.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
