Updated at 12:07 p.m. EST, Dec. 25, 2006
The U.S. military announced today that four GI s were killed and another two wounded in separate events. They also reported that Coalition advisors to the Iraqi army came under attack in and near Baquba. And, 83 Iraqis were killed or found dead today and another 138 were wounded during violent incidents.
U.S. military authorities reported that three MPs were killed and another wounded when a roadside bomb blasted their vehicle in Baghdad on Saturday. Another American soldier was killed and a second soldier wounded during an explosion in Diyala province.
In other Coalition news, U.S. forces killed three militia members in Baghdad and three gunmen in Samisiyah. Also, the Iraqi army and Coalition advisers were on a mission to capture a militia leader when they came under attack south of Baquba; at least four militia members were confirmed killed during the incident which occurred on Saturday. In a separate attack, the Iraqi Army and Coalition advisers encountered hostile forces in Baquba on Friday; an unspecified number of gunmen were killed and injured. No civilian or Coalition casualties were reported in either Baquba event.
At least eleven people were killed and 45 wounded since Saturday in the town of Samawa; Iraqi security forces and the Mahdi Militia have been engaged in fighting since Friday. The town is under a vehicle curfew as clashes continue.
Six mortar rounds wounded 12 people in central Baghdad. Two Iraqi army soldiers were killed and three more wounded when a roadside bomb blasted them in the central Nahda district. Another roadside bomb in the southeastern al Kamaliah area injured four people, and a roadside bomb in the northeastern Bab al Sham area injured four more. Also, 29 bodies were recovered around Baghdad.
A rocket landed in Khanaquin, wounding 18 people.
A suicide bomber wearing a bomb-laden vest killed seven police officers and injured 30 more during an attack on a police station in Muqdadiyah.
In Tal Afar, a roadside bomb killed two policemen.
A bomb blew up at a Baquba marketplace, killing one and injuring 17 others. North of town, two policemen were killed and a third wounded when gunmen attacked their checkpoint. And five Sunnis were abducted near Baquba by men wearing army uniforms.
Three dumped bodies were discovered in Diwaniya.
Five bodies were found in Mosul.
Two Shi’ite brothers were gunned down in Hawija.
In Rumaitha, clashes between the Iraqi army and the Mahdi militia left six people dead and one person injured.
Gunmen wounded three policemen when they attacked a police station in Jurf al Sakhar.
Gunmen stormed a home in Mussayab and killed one man inside.
Also, Iraqi troops killed one militia member and arrested dozens more in several locations around the country.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
