At least 15 Iraqis were killed and 16 others were wounded in new attacks. lso, the United Nation’s assistance mission in Iraq (UNAMI) has renewed its mandate for another year. The U.N. is concerned that the political impasse will be exploited by those opposed to the government.
At a gathering at the Imam Hussein mosque in Karbala Shi’ite cleric Ahmed al-Safi told thousands that the political impasse holding back the new government is causing considerable harm to Iraqis. Meanwhile, at least five Iraqis were killed and five more were wounded in light prayer day violence. Also, a British inquiry (Chilcot) may recall witnesses including Tony Blair, whose testimony in part contradicted that of other witnesses.
Updated at 8:21 p.m. EDT, July 28, 2010
At least 35 Iraqis were killed and 60 more were wounded, mostly in two attacks against Shi’ites in Baghdad and Karbala. At a British inquiry, General Richard Dannatt said that the simultaneous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan nearly broke the British military in 2006, when he took over as commander. Also, P.M. Maliki blamed foreign influence for a political impasse that many Iraqis view as his party’s own creation.
Updated at 6:10 p.m. EDT, July 27, 2010
Admiral Mike Mullen arrived in Iraq, where he lauded Iraq’s “stunning progress” in security over the last three years, while new attacks left at least seven Iraqis killed and 38 more wounded. Parliament again delayed meeting thanks to a political impasse that threatens long-term security. Meanwhile, inquiries and investigations in the U.K. and U.S. further underscore the lack of accountability in the build-up to the war and in the U.N.’s Oil-for-Food program. Also, the amount of classified documents related to the Iraq War that WikiLeaks is reportedly holding could be three times larger than what was just released on Afghanistan.
Three Iraqis were killed and 22 more were wounded in attacks in Mosul and Basra. Meanwhile, the INA’s rejection of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for a second term as prime minister could serve as the impetus to help a new coalition of 220 lawmakers resolve the impasse preventing the formation of the next government.
Updated at 9:01 p.m. EDT, July, 20, 2010
As the British inquiry into the Iraq war revealed new insights into the internal machinations behind the invasion, violence soldiered on in Iraq. At least 12 Iraqis were killed and 38 more wounded in various attacks. Five Iranians also died and five more were wounded in an attack on pilgrims. More casualties also resulted from the guerilla war between Turkey and PKK rebels. Meanwhile, a meeting between Ayad Allawi and Nouri al-Maliki, leading contenders to be the next prime minister, did not end in success.
Updated at 9:50 p.m. EDT, July, 18, 2010
At least 60 Iraqis were killed and 71 more were wounded in attacks that mostly targeted Awakening Council members. Also, former deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz, who was handed over to Iraqi custody last week, has been hit with new criminal charges.
At least four Iraqis were killed and seven more were wounded in lights attacks in the north. Meanwhile, the United States must evaluate policies that could affect Iraq’s relations with Turkey and Iran.
At least seven Iraqis were killed and nine more were wounded in prayer day attacks. Prime Minister Barham Salih, of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, said the government has talked with Iran about ending shelling in the region. Also, a fire ignited by an electrical short killed 28 people, including many foreigners, in Suleimaniyah.
Today’s attacks unsurprisingly targeted Awakening Council (Sahwa), security personnel and even a gold merchant as gunmen continue to stalk Iraq’s politically valuable targets. At least five Iraqis were killed and 29 more were wounded across the country. Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry released 198 inmates, mostly in Baghdad and Basra, over a lack of evidence against them.
