Updated at 8:41 p.m. EDT, Mar. 15, 2008
At least 20 Iraqis were killed and 55 more were wounded in the latest violence. One American soldier was killed today in Baghdad during a small arms attack. Also, clashing and other attacks continue in and around the city of Kut where the Mahdi Army and security forces have battled since Tuesday. This is the first significant violation of a unilateral ceasefire Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr imposed on his followers.
In Baghdad, a bomb in Wathiq Square killed one person and wounded eight more. Two bodies were found.
In Kut, a new mortar attack wounded six people. Also, five were killed and 15 were wounded during renewed clashing at separate locations. As many as 70 people were arrested following clashes between Mahdi Army members and security forces this week. West of the city, gunmen attacked a patrol, killing one policeman and injuring eight others.
Two people were killed and nine more were wounded when a grenade was thrown at a minibus in al-Hay yesterday. One person was playing with the grenade when it exploded.
Over two dozen mortars landed near the U.S. consulate near Hilla. One Iraqi woman was killed and eight more were wounded.
Gunmen wearing army uniforms stormed a home in Iskandariya, where they killed a man and kidnapped two of his relatives.
A body was found in Numaniya.
Four vehicles were damaged during clashes between gunmen and security forces in Basra. No casualties were reported.
U.S. soldiers killed two suspects near Samarra.
One of the casualties in yesterday’s bombing in Rubiaa has died.
In Fallujah, 53 detainees were released after no evidence against them could be found.
A roadside bomb wounded five policemen in Kirkuk.
In Mosul, a car bomb explosion wounded three civilians.
A civilian was gunned down near Baquba in the village of Huwayder.
In al-Amin, gunmen destroyed a man’s home.
A roadside bomb in Balad Ruz wounded two people.
Three people were injured during shelling in al-Salam.
Three dumped bodies were found across Diyala province.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
