Updated at 9:22 p.m. EDT, July 22, 2010
Three foreign contractors were killed during a mortar or rocket attack on Baghdad’s international Green Zone. At least 15 more were wounded in the attack. At least 13 Iraqis were killed as well and 18 more were wounded in other violence. Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (SIIC) urged Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to step aside and allow someone else to take over the premiership. Also, a new study supports anecdotal evidence that Fallujah is suffering from an increase in cancer and birth defects, perhaps caused by mutagenic and carcinogenic agents used during the war.
A group of five U.S. governors on a trip to Iraq declared the Sept. 1 withdrawal goal feasible as conditions have improved. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department said it intends to reduce its diplomatic staff in Iraq as well, but it will have to build its own army to take care of future security concerns.
In Baghdad, two Ugandans and a Peruvian were killed during a rocket attack in the Green Zone. At least 15 people were wounded during the attack which was launched from the Doura area. Two of the wounded are Americans, but the nationalities of the other 13 were not reported. All the victims worked for Triple Canopy, an American security company.
Elsewhere in the capital, gunmen killed one man and wounded a second in Jihad. A roadside bomb targeting Americans in Rashidiya left no casualties. No casualties were reported after a blast in the Sabi’ al Bor area.
In Mosul, gunmen killed a Sunni imam during a drive-by shooting near his home. Another man may have also been killed at the scene. Later, gunmen also attacked a checkpoint where they killed three people, including a policeman, and wounded a woman. A civilian man was also shot and killed. Two soldiers were wounded in an I.E.D. blast. Gunmen stormed a bakery, where they killed the baker and wounded his son. Two civilians were killed in a blast. A pair of blasts killed one policeman and wounded five others, including one civilian. Later, three civilians were wounded in a bomb blast, while a sticky bomb killed a former army officer.
In Fallujah, a sticky bomb killed a civilian and two others. Outside town, three soldiers were wounded in a roadside bomb blast.
Six detainees escaped from Karkh Prison (formerly Camp Cropper) sometime this week.
No casualties were reported after a blast near a warehouse in Mahmoudiya.
In Diyala, a bomb planted on a police department employee’s motorcycle exploded without leaving casualties.
Two Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels were killed during a clash in Turkey.
