Updated at 11:59 p.m. EDT, May 27, 2007
At least 94 Iraqis were killed or found dead today and another 55 Iraqis were wounded during violent events. However, the day’s biggest news was the rescue of 42 hostages from a suspected al-Qaeda hideout northeast of Baghdad. Unfortunately, another 40 were abducted from Samarra, and seven were kidnapped in other incidents. Three American servicemembers were also killed in separate events on Saturday, said military sources today.
The U.S. military reported that a roadside bomb killed an MND-B soldier and wounded two others. A separate roadside bomb killed one soldier and wounded four others in western Baghdad; two of the wounded are already back on duty. Also, a Task Force Lightning soldier was killed during an explosion in Diyala province. All deaths occurred yesterday. At least 103 American servicemembers have been killed this month in Iraq, and two more are missing. A body was recovered today that military experts think might be the body of one of the U.S. soldiers missing since May 12.
At an unspecified location in Diyala province, U.S. forces rescued at least 42 hostages from a suspected al-Qaeda safe house. The hostages bore evidence of torture including broken bones. The youngest victim was 14-years-old, and some said they had been there for up to four months. Elsewhere in the province, gunmen shot dead a civlilian and wounded a second, while a body was found bearing gunshot wounds to the head. A police chief was kidnapped from a fake checkpoint.
Meanwhile, 40 civilians were abducted from a fake checkpoint in Samarra. Gunmen also attacked a police station, where they killed two and injured three policemen.
In Baghdad, 44 bodies were discovered scattered throughout Baghdad, including a group of 12 dumped bodies discovered in the Doura neighborhood. A group of gunmen tossed concussion grenades into the Shorja market, killing two people and wounding nine; the same gunmen then killed a minibus driver and stole his vehicle with six Iraqis in it. In Bab al-Muadham, gunmen killed two people and wounded eight. An IED wounded three policemen in Adhamiya. In New Baghdad, gunmen assassinated noted Iraqi calligrapher, Khalil al-Zahawi. Four people were killed during clashes between security forces and gunmen in the Fadhil area. The Association of Muslim scholars accused U.S. forces of killing 10 Iraqis and wounded scores during air raids in western Baghdad.
U.S. forces conducted several raids in Sadr City. They also shot at a vehicle, setting it ablaze, when it continued its approach despite being signaled to stop; no one was injured.
Attacks continue in Basra where British forces killed an important Mahdi leader on Friday. In the latest attacks, British forces killed three gunmen and detained four more. The head of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council and an assisstant were both killed by gunmen as well.
In a drive-by shooting in Nahwaran, gunmen killed two farmers and wounded nine others.
Gunmen killed two police officers, a lieutenant colonel and a captain, south of Shurqat.
In Khalis, two civilians were gunned down on a main thoroughfare, while a hospital employee was shot dead in a market.
In Kut, 70 police officers quit out of fear of being targeted by the Mahdi Army.
A car bomb killed seven people and injured 12 in a Ramadi marketplace.
Two were injured when mortars fell in Bani Saad.
In Kirkuk, the charred body of a Turkman singer was found in a burned out car.
A car bomb in Mosul killed one and injured five others.
In Jurf al-Sakhar, a car bomb killed two Iraqi soldiers and injured three at a checkpoint.
The Iraqi army killed four suspects and arrested 137 others in different locations in Iraq.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
