Iraq has denied launching rockets at a controversial port being built in neighboring Kuwait and has opened an investigation into the assault. Meanwhile, at least 14 Iraqis were killed and 69 more were wounded across the country.
Confusion followed the firing of three rockets early this morning near the Kuwaiti border in southern Iraq. Rumors circulated that the rockets were targeting the partially built Mubarak Port in Kuwait, forcing Iraq to immediately deny any involvement. The head of the security committee in Basra province instead claimed the rockets were pointed at former U.S. prison Camp Bucca, and a truck carrying rocket launchers was found at the scene. Last month the Hezbollah militia in Iraq threatened to conduct attacks against the port. No casualties were reported in today’s incident.
Iraq has previously called on Kuwait to cease construction because the port will interfere with Iraq’s shipping lanes. Kuwait has denied that charge. Although Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, igniting the Persian Gulf War, it is unlikely that Iraq could significantly threaten Kuwait now. The country does not have enough resources to repel current incursions by Turkey or Iran let alone menace Kuwait. Tangentially, the Kurdish parliament is demanding Turkey apologize for air strikes that have killed at least seven civilians.
A double car bombing south of Basra in Abu al-Khaseeb late on Thursday killed four people and wounded 50 others near a Shi’ite mosque. At least one suicide bomber was involved.
Four policemen were killed and six more were wounded in a suicide attack in Falluja.
A roadside bomb wounded three people in Tarmiya.
In Baghdad, a blast near a liquor store wounded two people. Mortar fire wounded three more in Sabi al-Bour. A sticky bomb killed a police officer and wounded two bystanders near the national theater.
Gunmen attacked a car carrying the former head of the Jbela town council, killing three people and wounding one other. He was one of the dead.
An explosion wounded two policemen in Yathrib.
In Qara Tabba, a man was killed as he was allegedly planting a bomb.
Two taxi drivers, likely kidnapped, disappeared in Hilla, where cabbies have been hit with a spate of abductions.
