A deadly post-Ramadan escalation of hostilities has apparently paid off for Iran, as the Party Of A Free Life Of Kurdistan (P.J.AK.) has imposed a unilateral truce on itself, in the hope that Iran will join the ceasefire. Tehran appears to be considering talks but is demanding that rebels first remove themselves from border areas as a sign of goodwill. The potential truce comes just as Iran resumed shelling suspected rebel camps on the Iraqi side of the border. Iranian officials claimed that at least 30 rebels were killed and 40 more were wounded in the shelling. The numbers may include those who were killed on Iranian soil.
The mayor of Soran district, in Iraq, said a civilian woman was killed and two others were wounded in the Iranian shelling. A young shepherd lost his life just two days ago in a previously reported incident. Several more Iraqis died during shelling in July.
Meanwhile, the Secretary General of Peshmerga Ministry, General Jabbar Yawar, denied rumors that joint U.S.-Iraq forces are headed to the area. It is unlikely, as the United States has already said it will not interfere in Turkish air strikes against the Kurdistan Workers Party (P.K.K.), who are waging a similar guerilla war but against Turkey instead.
In Turkey, two people were killed and eight more were wounded when gunmen opened fire on a group of policemen playing football. Four or five men believed to be with the Kurdistan Workers Party (P.K.K.). One of the gunmen was killed.
Elsewhere in Iraq, at least 4 people were killed and 12 more were wounded in other violence.
In Baghdad, a blast targeting the head of Baghdad Operations Command failed to harm General Ahmed Hashim but wounded three bystanders instead. A Housing Ministry official escaped an assassination attempt as well. Five people were wounded in an Adhamiya blast.
In Kirkuk, gunmen killed a neurologist and his brother. A bomb targeting a brigadier general failed to harm anyone when it exploded.
Mosul police found the body of a former policeman. Two people were wounded in a mortar attack.
A Sahwa member was killed in Tuz Khormato.
Two were wounded in Khalis when a bomb exploded.
