At least seven Iraqis were killed and nine were wounded in the latest round of violence. No Coalition deaths were reported, but U.S. Secretary Gates is in Iraq to facilitate the change in direction that a security agreement will mean for U.S. troops.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates visited Iraq to meet with U.S. commanders and urged Middle East nations to help fight terror. The top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. Raymond Odierno, told reporters that he expects some U.S. troops to remain in Iraqi cities beyond next summer’s deadline as training personnel, while second in command, Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin, focused his thoughts on the success of Awakening Council members in security roles. Separately, a U.S. team is in Iraq to discuss the Blackwater shootings with local officials and survivors. Also, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki contradicted his spokesman on comments that U.S. troops might be required in Iraq for another 10 years.
Two civilians were killed and two more were wounded during a small arms attack in Tikrit.
In Mosul, a local leader was shot dead and an Iraqi soldier was also killed separately in Adan neighborhood. A woman was shot and killed in front of her home. Gunmen killed a patrolman in Wahda.
In Baghdad, six civilians were injured during a blast Doura neighborhood. A senior Interior Ministry official was assassinated in Shabb.
An oil guard was injured during a blast in Kirkuk.
A member of Basra’s provincial council said that the withdrawal of British troops should not affect security in the province.
In Diyala, 110 unidentified bodies were buried. Authorities will hold unidentified bodies for a certain amount of time, often months, in order for family members to collect their remains. If none appear, they are then buried. Some or all of these bodies were likely already reported in the media.
Thirteen suspects were detained across during raids in northern and central Iraq, and six more were detained elsewhere.
Four Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party members were arrested by Suleimaniya police for distributing leaflets condemning Iranian shelling and Turkish airstrikes in Iraq.
Six suspects were arrested in Dhi Qar province.
Four suspects were detained in Muqdadiyah.
Seven suspects were arrested in Basra.
An arms cache was found in Samarra.
A man was arrested for smuggling military equipment to Iran.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
