Baghdad and Mosul, as usual, saw small but multiple attacks, but it was south of the capital where the most significant violence took place. Overall, at least 15 Iraqis were killed and 39 more were wounded across the country.
At least two Iraqis were killed and one more was wounded in new attacks. Although violence was light, other news stories took the headlines as American officials publicly spoke against one particular political alliance that could help end the power vacuum in Baghdad.
Updated at 8:11 p.m. EDT, Oct. 5, 2010
At least 10 Iraqis were killed and 21 more were wounded in light violence. Meanwhile, the United States wants to help Iraq reorganize its civil service into a decentralized entity that will give more authority to provincial governments.
Updated at 8:22 p.m. EDT, Oct. 1, 2010
As of today, Iraq has spent 208 days without an elected government. It now stands as the country that has gone the longest between parliamentary elections and the formation of a new government. Meanwhile, at least eight Iraqis were killed and 14 more were wounded in light prayer day attacks across the country.
At least three Iraqis were killed and 10 more were wounded in light violence. Despite the seemingly quiet news day, one story underscored the deterioration of news reporting in Iraq.
Updated at 8:25 p.m. EDT, Sept. 27, 2010
As if the political deadlock over the premiership did not already stoke sectarian tensions in Iraq, the Interior Ministry has now ordered the demotions of hundreds of Sunni police officers. Meanwhile, the violence continues. At least 10 Iraqis were killed and 28 more were wounded across the country. Meanwhile a U.S. soldier was killed in a vehicle rollover in Kuwait, and a sniper wounded a U.S. soldier in Amara.
Baghdad and nearby Garma today suffered a string of small but highly visible attacks that left a number of government employees and security elements injured or dead. At least 10 Iraqis were killed and 27 more were wounded in that and other violence. Also, Iraq launched a new U.S.-built patrol boat, the first of its expanding fleet, at the Umm Qasr naval base.
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.
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.