Wedneday: 3 Iraqis Killed, 18 Wounded

Updated at 8:22 p.m. EST, Dec. 2, 2009

At least three Iraqis were killed and 18 were wounded in violence across central Iraq. Most of the wounded were from a previously reported incident, but the casualty figures were revised. The rest of the wounded and one of the dead were from a U.S. attack on a Kurdish security force in Diyala.

A U.S. Lt. Colonel who allegedly failed to properly investigate the deaths of 24 Iraqis in Haditha faces demotion and the loss of millions of dollars in retirement benefits. Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani originally faced criminal charges, but they were dropped earlier this year.

U.S. forces killed a Peshmerga fighter during an air strike in Saidiya. The fighter and his two sons had fired upon an Iraqi patrol they mistakenly believed was al-Qaeda gunmen staging a repeat attack on their home. Three others were wounded. U.S. forces were called in and alleged that al-Qaeda gunmen had been arrested at the home instead, Saidiya is part of a disputed area that borders the Kurdish Autonomous Region, and is home to many Kurdish Peshmerga fighters who serve as local security.

At least 15 more people were wounded than was previously reported during an attack on Eid celebrants in Hawija on Monday. Eleven wounded had already been reported, bringing the total to 26 wounded.

In Baghdad, gunmen killed man at a Tobji café. A soldier was gunned down at a checkpoint on Palestine Street.

Tal Afar imposed a vehicle ban in response to a possible suicide attack.

Police in Amara liberated a hostage and arrested the kidnapper.

A bomb was defused near Murgana village. 

A car bomb was safely detonated in a controlled explosion in Kirkuk.

Missan province police announced the success of an Eid al-Adha security plan.

Two suspected al-Qaeda leaders were captured in Ninewa.

Eight suspects were detained in Basra province.

In lighter news, a journalist who tossed his shoes at then-U.S. President George Bush during a press conference last year found himself the target of a new shoe-thrower. Muntadhar al-Zaidi jokingly complained that the as yet unidentified shoe-thrower stole his technique. Zaidi’s brother then attacked the man with more shoes as he fled.

Author: Margaret Griffis

Margaret Griffis is a journalist from Miami Beach, Florida and has been covering Iraqi casualties for Antiwar.com since 2006.