Updated at 8:55 p.m. EDT, July 19, 2009
At least four Iraqis were killed and 18 more were wounded in a light day of violence. A U.S. Marine was killed in combat in Anbar province. So far, no outright attacks against Shi’ite pilgrims have been reported; however, a blast in Numaniya reminded pilgrims to stay alert to trouble as they head home from Baghdad.
In Mosul, US forces shot and wounded a man who had thrown a dud grenade at an Iraqi patrol. A curfew imposed on parts of the city was lifted. Also, two Syrian gunmen were arrested. Meanwhile, a war of words continues between the Arab governor and a Kurdish general over whether Peshmerga fighters can continue on as a security force in the area.
A roadside bomb blast in Abu Ghraib killed one civilian and wounded two others; several buildings were damaged as well. A separate bombing killed an Iraqi soldier at a checkpoint; another soldier and two policemen were wounded.
In Baghdad, a bomb at a café wounded nine people.
Three masked gunmen using a machine gun killed a civilian in Kut. A policeman was also wounded by gunfire when he shot at the gang.
An Awakening Council leader was killed and his bodyguard was wounded in a blast in Madaen.
A roadside bomb near Tal Afar in Aladiya exploded and wounded a woman.
In Numaniya, a bomb exploded at an orchard that was readied to receive “mourners” for an Imam Musa observance later today. No casualties were reported.
A three-year-old child was liberated in Kut. She had been kidnapped by a serviceman from Basra and held for ransom. The kidnapper fled.
Fallujah officials imposed a vehicle ban after the discovery of a suspicious truck.
In Jalawla, police arrested two al-Qaeda suspects and defused a bomb.
An arms cache was found buried at a Ramadi cemetery.
An arms cached was discovered in Karbala.
