At least 53 people were killed and 65 more were wounded in today’s attacks and clashes. The town of Saniya, in northern Iraq, was briefly held by militants last night. Also, the Iraqi army has suspended operations in Falluja until Tuesday.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said security forces would suspend military operations in Falluja for 72 hours effective yesterday. Artillery fire did taper off yesterday, but five people were killed today and five more were wounded in fresh shelling. Some clashes were fought as well.
A suicide car bomber in Ramadi, perhaps the one reported yesterday, killed two soldiers and wounded 17 more. At least four more were reported killed.
Four crewmembers were killed when their helicopter was shot down over Garma.
Further west in Anbar a truck bomb killed a policeman. Two gunmen were killed trying to enter Iraq.
Outside of Anbar:
Five people were killed and 18 more were wounded in a triple bombing near the homes of security personnel and local officials in Tikrit. A sticky bomb killed the son of an army employee.
An attack on a military patrol in Imam Weis left six policemen and four gunmen dead. Four policemen were wounded.
In Baghdad, security forces killed four gunmen. A bomb wounded a civilian in Jamila. Another gunman was killed by security forces.
Gunmen attacked checkpoints in Saniya, where they killed four policemen and wounded six others. Militants briefly held the town overnight.
A car bomb in Qadisiya killed two policemen and wounded nine more.
Two men were killed as they tried to plant a roadside bomb in Um-Najim.
Two female bodes bearing gunshot wounds to the head were found in Basra.
A roadside bomb in Tikrit killed one person and wounded his passenger.
In Kirkuk, a sniper targeting a military commander killed his bodyguard instead.
In Mosul, gunmen killed one soldier and wounded another.
A mortar attack in Baiji killed one policeman and wounded three more.
