Updated at 6:06 p.m. EST, Dec. 19, 2007
A large bombing in Abbara was among the numerous attacks that left dozens of casualties throughout Iraq today. Overall, at least 57 Iraqis were killed and 66 more were wounded in the latest violence. No Coalition deaths were reported, but Turkey sent hundred of fresh troops into Iraq to counter the PKK rebels in the north.
At least 300 Turkish troops entered northern Iraq today to reinforce the 1200 soldiers who have been stationed in the country since 1996. Some unconfirmed battles with Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels were reported. Meanwhile, the president of Iraqi Kurdistan, Massoud al-Barazani, said that Sunday’s air assault was a "horrific crime" against Kurdish civilians.
Sixteen people were killed and 28 were wounded during a suicide bomber attack at a café in Abbara.
In Baghdad, five people were killed, including at least one policeman, during a bombing that also wounded ten others in Bab al-Sharqi. In al-Qahira, gunmen killed an employee working for the de-Baathification committee and injured two others. Gunmen also killed a dean at al-Ma’Moun college in the Qadisiyah neighborhood. Shelling in Jamiaa wounded an Iraqi soldier and two civilians. No casulties were reported after a bombing at Mustansiriyah University and an IED explosion in Mansour. Also, five dumped bodies were found.
In Baghdad’s predominantly Sunni Doura neighborhood, Shi’ite residents are complaining that the neighborhood Awakening Council is trying to drive them out of the area. Meanwhile, security forces are shoring up Baghdad’s defenses ahead of Wednesday’s Eid al-Adha holiday.
A suicide car bomber struck at a Baquba police checkpoint, where two people, including a civilian, were killed and another 15, including children, were injured.
Gunmen killed seven Yazidi tribesmen and wounded two more during an attack west of Mosul near Sinjar. Three policemen responding to the killing were themselves killed in a roadside bombing. Also, the explosion sparked a clash in which three gunmen died.
A well-known businessman was killed and three siblings were wounded during an armed attack near Basra at the al-Marbad fuel station.
A Mahdi Army leader was killed and three bodyguards were wounded during an armed attack in Numaniya.
In Fallujah, U.S. forces killed a 15-year-old boy who was driving too close to an army vehicle.
A female hostage was freed and two kidnappers were arrested in Amarah.
U.S. air forces dropped bombs on a large cache of bombs hidden in tunnels near Iskandariya, destroying the arms.
In al-Hadar, 10 oil security workers were killed during an armed attack.
Police raided three villages near Hawija, where twenty suspects were captured along with a large cache of arms. In Aziziya, U.S. forces detained 12 suspects. Another seven people were arrested in northern and central Iraq. Also, 10 al-Qaeda suspects were arrested in Diyala province.
Meanwhile, 42 detainees were released in Fallujah; none of the detainees has been charged with crimes. In Karbala, 18 detainees were freed. And, 75 more suspects were found not guilty and released in Samarra.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
