Updated at 12:40 a.m EDT, April 11, 2007
Yesterday’s reprieve from violence has definitively ended. At least 74 Iraqis were killed or found dead, and another 115 Iraqis were wounded, mostly today . Also, four U.S. soldiers were killed in separate incidents yesterday. Meanwhile 16 GIs were wounded and two U.S. helicopters were hit by gunfire in today’s clashes..
Three U.S. soldiers were killed in a double bombing in Baghdad yesterday; a roadside bomb was followed immediately by a secondary explosion during the incident. A fourth soldier was killed in combat in the Anbar province. These deaths bring the tally for April to 45 American deaths. About five servicemembers are dying on a daily basis. If this rate continues, April will be the deadliest month since March of 2003, when the war began.
In in central Baghdad’s Fadl district, two U.S. helicopters were hit by small gunfire today but returned to base safely. Witnesses say that helicopters were bombing buildings where gunmen were located. Clashes between U.S.-Iraqi forces and gunmen left at least 20 dead and 30 injured. Women and children were among the casualties. The U.S. military reported that one child and four Iraqi soldiers were killed, while 16 GIs were wounded.
British troops in Basra came under attack during a search operation. Two gunmen were hit and a policeman was killed during the clash. At least 11 civilians were wounded in the crossfire.
Elsewhere in the capital, a bomb near Baghdad University killed six people and wounded 11 others. One boy was killed and 17 more were injured when mortars landed on their secondary school on Palestine Street. Three residents of the Bayaa area were injured by mortar fire. A mortar shell killed one person and injured another in the Rashad neighborhood. Also, nine dumped bodies were recovered.
A female suicide bomber detonated her cargo at a police station in Muqdadiyah where she killed 17 people and wounded 33 others. Many were police recruits, but some civilians were among the injured. Five Iraqi soldiers were killed in a separate explosion.
A bomb planted in a Hilla home killed two civilians and wounded four others from the same family.
Four unidentified bodies were found in Fallujah. A member of the local council was also killed.
Three bodies were found in Mosul yesterday. Today, a U.S. helicopter fired upon a house, injuring three civilians.
Two bodies bearing gunshot wounds and torture marks were found near Kirkuk in the town of Rashad.
A soldier was shot dead on his way to work in Kirkuk.
One militant was killed and 12 suspects were arrested in Haditha.
The curfew in Diwaniya was lifted, as well as the one in Najaf. However, two Shi’ite groups in Diwaniyah are said to still be battling each other for control of the region.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
