Updated at 11:35 p.m. EDT, Sept. 13, 2010
Fighting between suspected al-Qaeda elements and Iraqi security personnel continued in a small town just northeast of Baghdad. Including those casualties, at least 24 Iraqis were killed and 66 more were wounded in the latest violence. One U.S. soldier was also wounded. As happened yesterday, almost all attacks were in Diyala province. While Diyala remains one of the most unstable provinces thanks to continued al-Qaeda presence, it is unlikely that other volatile areas such as Mosul have gone completely without incidents since the end of Ramadan.
At least 12 Iraqis were killed and 13 more were wounded in the latest violence. Curiously, the only reports of attacks today came from Diyala province, but coverage from Iraq has been scant for days as Muslims observe the end of Ramadan. In neighboring Turkey, voters passed a large constitutional reform package even though some polls saw related violence.
Thanks to Eid al-Fitr observances, violence seemingly took a holiday. Only four Iraqis were reported killed over the last pair of days. Another 12 were wounded.
Updated at 8:55 p.m. EDT, Sept. 9, 2010
Iraqis are awaiting the sighting of the crescent moon that will mark the end of Ramadan and the start of Eid al-Fitr celebrations. Although security forces are concerned this may trigger an increase in violence, so far attacks have remained light. At least eight Iraqis were killed and 15 more were wounded.
Updated at 6:26 p.m. EDT, Sept. 8, 2010
As the Eid al-Fitr holiday draws near, small attacks are on the upswing. At least 16 Iraqis were killed and 67 more were wounded in the latest violence. Also, the first group of American soldiers deployed under Operation New Dawn have arrived in Iraq.
Updated at 6:50 p.m. EDT, Sept. 8, 2010
A Kurdish Iraqi soldier killed two U.S. soldiers in one of four reported attacks on American targets. At least 16 Iraqis were killed and 19 more were wounded as well. Meanwhile, six months have passed since national elections, yet the new government has not been selected. Also, looted artifacts are slowly being returned to Iraq.
At least 10 Iraqis were killed and 28 more were wounded in new violence. Meanwhile, the U.S. military admitted that attacks against American troops increased during Ramadan, which ends this week. Also, the long war has destroyed the hopes of many older Iraqi women who are seeking marriage.
Updated at 10:22 p.m. EDT, Sept. 5, 2010
What might have been a relatively peaceful day was shattered when six gunmen struck at a military target in Baghdad. American troops were involved in repelling the attack. At least 20 Iraqis were killed there and in other violence, while another 58 were wounded. Meanwhile, the oil ministry has cut supplies of certain petrol products to Iraqi Kurdistan over allegations that the excess supplies are being illegally sold to Iran.
Iraq saw very little violence today. Only six Iraqis were wounded in new reports, and all of those were injured in Baghdad.
Updated at 8:08 p.m. EDT, Sept. 3, 2010
At least seven Iraqis were killed and 18 more were wounded in light violence. Meanwhile, two prominent Iraqis used the prayer day to speak out: At a sermon in Karbala, Sheikh Abdul-Mahdi al-Karbalaei asked Iraqi officials to end the deadlock preventing the new government. Meanwhile, Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr issued a statement asking Iraqis to support security forces who do not work alongside the American troops remaining in Iraq.
