Updated at 11:45 p.m. EDT, May 29, 2007
At least 13 new U.S. servicemember deaths were reported today, making May the bloodiest month since 2004. So far, at least 116 Americans were killed in Iraq in May, including 10 who were killed on Memorial Day. Several Westerners were abducted in a daring attack in Baghdad. Also, at least 169 Iraqis were killed or found dead and 146 were wounded in other violent events.
The U.S. military reports that six Task Force Lightning soldiers were killed and three wounded in explosions that occurred near their vehicles in Diyala province yesterday. Another two TFL soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash, which is under investigation. In Baghdad on Monday, two MND-B soldiers were killed in an IED attack. A soldier was killed on Saturday in a roadside bomb attack near Balad. A soldier, who was wounded on May 4 in a Baghded IED attack died of his wounds on May 24 at the Bethesda Medical Center. Also, a Marine died in Kuwait from non-combat related vehicle accident.
In Baghdad, three five British citizens were kidnapped from a Finance Ministry building by gunmen wearing police commando uniforms. Police commandos are a much hated and feared unit, operating outside of the normal police ranks. A bomb on a bus in Tayaran Square killed 38 people and wounded at least 53 others. Over an hour later a truck bomb in an Amil car parts market killed 20, injured 85, and set fire to several cars while damaging a numbers of buildings and a Shi’ite mosque. Also, 30 dumped bodies were found.
In Baquba, 21 dumped bodies were found in two districts.
Five bodies, two decapitated, were found in the Tigris River at Suwayra, a common location for such discoveries.
Gunmen killed two policemen and wounded three in Shurqat.
Mahmoud Hakim Mustafa, the editor-in-chief of Hawadith weekly newspaper was gunned down near his Kirkuk home on Monday.
Three gunmen were killed in a clash with security forces near Tal Afar.
In Arbil, four people were executed for a 2005 bombing.
An Iraqi National Guard checkpoint was attacked in Hibhib, but the number of casualties was not specified.
Thirty-five bodies were found in a mass grave in Diyala province.
Eleven bodies were found in Mamuhdiya.
In Samarra, at least 40 people were kidnapped from a fake checkpoint. A similar incident occurred over the weekend.
A bridge southwest of Fallujah was destroyed, but no casualties were reported.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
