Although the country is expecting an increase in violence this week, so far it has been relatively quiet. Today, at least seven Iraqis were killed and 18 more were wounded in light violence. Other news from Iraq dealt with formation of the new government, the aftermath of the drawdown and the huge waste of resources on the part of the United States.
At least 13 Iraqis were killed and 28 more were wounded in attacks across the country. One of the casualties came from an Iranian artillery attack launched into Iraqi Kurdistan. Meanwhile, the political deadlock over the next prime minister continued, but U.S. Vice President Joe Biden called for a resolution soon.
The first U.S. soldier to die since the withdrawal of combat troops this week was killed in during a rocket attack in Basra today. At least four Iraqis were killed and 43 more were wounded in other attacks.
Updated at 8:29 p.m. EDT, Aug. 20, 2010
At least four Iraqis were killed and eight more were wounded in light violence. Despite the much-reported withdrawal of U.S. combat troops two days ago, a U.S. patrol came under a thermal bomb attack in Kirkuk. No casualties were reported in that incident. The U.S. military says that 52,000 American servicemembers remain in the country.
At least three Iraqis were killed and seven more were wounded in the latest attacks. A U.S. soldier was also killed during a hostile attack in Baquba. Nearby, four Iranian tourists were killed and nine were wounded in a separate attack in Diyala province. Casualties were also reported in an attack in Fallujah.
Updated at 4:41 p.m. EDT, Aug. 8, 2010
Explosions of an unknown source left casualties in Basra where police were already expecting large demonstrations. At least 66 Iraqis were killed and 237 more were wounded there and elsewhere. Meanwhile, U.S. forces have officially handed over control of combat operations to their Iraqi counterparts. Also, British special forces are under investigation prisoner abuse.
Updated at 5:32 p.m. EDT, July 23, 2010
Only one Iraqi death was reported today, but 33 Iraqis were wounded in new attacks. Three U.S. soldiers who were wounded at their base in Nasariya as well. Meanwhile, Iraq trudged on another day without a new government, but the United States continued pressure on the leading contenders for prime minister.
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.
Updated at 9:27 p.m. EDT, July 10, 2010
At least five Iraqis were killed and 10 were wounded in light violence. Turkish warplanes were to blame for injuries to one Iraqi. Meanwhile, U.S. Army’s Chief of Staff, Gen. George Casey, suggested that the United States could be involved in Iraq and Afghanistan for another decade.
As U.S. Vice President Joe Biden met with the two leading contenders for prime minister, several suicide bombers put a damper on the attempt to reconcile the politicians’ efforts to hasten the formation of the next government. At least 19 Iraqis were killed and 57 more were wounded across the country. Also, two U.S. soldiers were wounded when their convoy came across a roadside bomb.
