Updated at 10:07 p.m. EDT, July 18, 2009
Today’s observances at the Imam Musa shrine in Baghdad suffered no attacks even though the millions of Shi’ite pilgrims who traveled there could have been potential targets for terror. Still, at least nine Iraqis were killed and 23 were wounded in other violence. No Coalition deaths were reported, but two Xe (formerly Blackwater) contractors were killed in a helicopter crash outside Baghdad; two more were wounded. In Arbil, Kurdish politicians rejected the partitioning of Kirkuk (At Tamim) province into four sections.
Four people were killed and 10 others were wounded by a car bomb blast in Garma. Separately, a bomb targeted a member of the tribal council. He was wounded by shrapnel, but his son and two bodyguards were killed. Three others were wounded in the second explosion.
In Mosul, a bomb wounded two Iraqi soldiers. A policeman was wounded in a separate blast. Gunmen shot and killed an armless man. A vehicle ban was imposed ahead of a security operation in parts of Mosul. Also, two bombs were defused.
Overnight, one child died of injuries received during a blast that interrupted a soccer game in Fallujah yesterdy.
Three civilians were injured during a blast in a garage near a Ramadi hospital. A soldier was wounded in a separate bombing.
In Baghdad, two policemen were wounded in a bomb blast.
Arms were seized in different parts of Missan province.
The governor of Ninewa province warned that he will “dissolve” any alternate councils that may form in the restive province. Meanwhile, the provincial police are working with the Awakening Council (Sahwa) movement to form local councils there. The councils are credited with reducing violence in other provinces.
Police in Basra detained a suspect believed to have shot rockets a U.S. base on Thursday. Three U.S. soldiers were killed in the attack. More rockets were discovered at his home. Twelve other suspects were captured during raids.
The Turkish Army killed three Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) members near the border with Syria. The PKK would like to see an independent Kurdistan comprised of parts of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and other neighboring countries.
