Updated at 11:15 p.m EST, Dec. 25, 2006
Today, U.S. military authorities reported six new American servicemember deaths in separate incidents in or near Baghdad and in Anbar province. In Basra, British troops conducted a large scale raid. Also, 83 Iraqis were killed or found dead today and another 46 were wounded in separate incidents throughout Iraq.
A roadside bomb in Baghdad killed one soldier and wounded two others when it blasted their vehicle. Another roadside bomb killed one soldier and injured two more southwest of the capital. A third roadside bomb killed another two more soldiers and wounded another, also southwest of Baghdad. And, one Marine and one soldier were killed in Anbar province on Sunday. So far in December 86 U.S. servicemembers have been killed.
British troops in Basra raided a renegade police unit allegedly filled with militia members; seven of the police/militia members were killed. Over 100 detainees within the police station were thought to be in danger of execution and were rescued; some bore evidence of torture.
In Baghdad, 40 dumped bodies were found. A car bomb killed ten people and wounded 15 others. Also, a suicide bomber killed three people and wounded 20 when he detonated his cargo aboard a crowded bus in the Talibiya section. Gunmen killed an employee from the ministry of housing, who was in the Zayouna area, and an employee from the ministry of science of technology, who was on al Kanat street.
An Iraqi army patrol in Fallujah came under attack from gunmen; two soldiers and a third person were killed.
In Ramadi, a suicide bomber at a police checkpoint near Anbar University killed three people and wounded five others; there are contradictory reports as to the identity of the victims. Clashes between Iraqi army and gunmen then erupted. Mortar fire was also reported.
A sniper killed a police commando in Samarra.
In Mahaweel, gunmen killed a police lieutenant colonel and two police officers; at least one other officer was wounded.
Seven bodies were discovered in different parts of Mosul.
Mortars fell in Balad Ruz and injured five civilians.
In Baquba, a roadside bomb killed four people, including two women, near the al Anfal mosque.
Also, a potential truce has been reached in Samawa where clashes between police and the Mahdi militia have been ongoing since Friday.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
