At least eight Iraqis were killed and 14 more were wounded in the latest attacks, which included an artillery strike from Iranian territory. No U.S. casualties were reported despite two direct attacks on troops. Also, it appears that P.M. Maliki is locked in to be the premier for another term.
The Sadrists have tentatively backed Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for a second term as Iraq’s leader; however, they also noted that he has not fulfilled conditions that would guarantee their support. While this brings Maliki closer to a second term as Iraq’s leader, it also means the Iraqiya party, which won the most seats in March elections, was completely shut out of forming the new government. Adding to the controversy, Saudi prince, Turki al-Faisal, accused Maliki of basically stealing the election.
Two incidents involving U.S. troops left no reported casualties. A U.S. helicopter crashed landed due to technical issues, but the passengers survived the incident in Nasariya. In Basra, no casualties were reported after a blast destroyed a U.S. vehicle.
Iran released an Iraqi soldier, who was detained during a case of mistaken identity yesterday. Today, one woman was injured when Iranian troops fired artillery rounds into Iraqi Kurdistan. In both cases, Iran likely was targeting Party for a Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK) rebels; however, the Iran-Iraq border is poorly marked and subject to occasional incursions by Iranian troops.
In Mosul, a child was killed when a grenade was hurled at a patrol. A soldier was wounded when a quarrel ended with his stabbing. A separate bombing left two wounded soldiers. A mosque’s muezzin was shot to death after Friday prayers.
A landmine blast in Hadhar killed a shepherd.
In Baghdad, a blast left four dead and eight wounded in Adhamiya last night.
A blast in Jalawla left one dead and two wounded.
Three suspects were captured in Kirkuk and a rocket launching pad was discovered. A weapons cache was found south of the city.
Police in Fallujah defused a roadside bomb.
A suspected al-Qaeda leader was captured in Latifiya.
Two suspects were detained in Majmouaa.
