At least three Iraqis were killed and 16 others were wounded in new attacks. Separately, two U.S. soldiers were killed and a third one was injured during a non-combat event. Further underscoring the ongoing U.S. presence in Iraq, a leading Sunni cleric urged Arab leaders to boycott the Arab summit next March in Baghdad, in protest of this continuing U.S. occupation.
At least one Iraqi was killed and eight more were wounded in light violence. Meanwhile, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari announced that full diplomatic ties with Syria will be resumed. Also, for the first time since the invasion of Iraq, more contractors have died in the country than have U.S. troops.
Updated at 7:11 p.m. EDT, Sept. 23, 2010
Iraq’s political deadlock was high on the agenda at the 7th Interior Ministers Meeting. The ministers of several neighboring countries acknowledged that Iraq’s politics are an internal matter, but they also stressed a “regional need” for Iraq to seat its new government. Meanwhile, 12 Iraqis were killed and 12 more were wounded in new violence. A foreign contractor was also wounded.
Unlike neighboring Iran, Iraq was fairly quiet on what is the 30th anniversary of the Iran-Iraq War. One person was killed and 31 others were wounded in new and updated reports of violence.
Updated at 10:55 p.m. EDT, Sept. 21, 2010
At least 15 Iraqis were killed and 84 more were wounded in the latest violence. Meanwhile the Iraqi Air Force opened its flight academy last week, even though they are still completely dependent on the United States for air security. Also, Deputy Prime Minister Rafia al-Issawi denied rumors he has received threats from P.M. Nouri al-Maliki trying to intimidate al-Issawi into approving the premier for a second term.
Updated at 8:49 p.m. EDT, Sept. 20, 2010
Baghdad again saw a number of attacks today, but they were not as deadly as yesterday’s. At least two Iraqis were killed and 28 more were wounded in the new violence. Meanwhile, hundreds of looted artifacts returned to Iraq before being “lost” again were found in a storeroom belonging to the prime minister’s office. Also, several members of parliament attempted to meet in an unofficial capacity but were thwarted by the usual politics.
Updated at 8:22 p.m. EDT, Sept. 19, 2010
An unusually quiet Saturday was followed by a very bloody Sunday in which at least 56 Iraqis were killed and 171 more were wounded. Baghdad again received most of the violence, for which a member of the Iraqi National Alliance blamed al-Qaeda and the political vacuum. Underscoring the unreliability of news accounts from Iraq since many international reporters left, a couple of the attacks that occurred yesterday went unreported until today and Mosul saw very little violence.
At least, four Iraqis were killed and 10 more were wounded in light violence. Two of the deceased died overnight of injuries received in previously reported violence.
A leading Iraqiya Party member today announced a deal that could finally break the elections deadlock paralyzing the Iraqi government. Influential Shi’ite cleric Abdel Mahdi al-Karbalai seemed to be referring to the deal when he told parishioners there were “signs of a breakthrough” and “glimmers of hope.” Meanwhile, 10 Iraqis were killed and 20 more were wounded in the latest attacks. Also, an American soldier was killed in a non-combat incident in Iskandariya.
Updated at 5:28 p.m. EDT, Sept. 16, 2010
One U.S. soldier was killed and another was wounded while attempting to defuse an explosive device in Balad. Meanwhile, at least 13 Iraqis were killed and 14 more were wounded in attacks across the country.
