Bombs Across Central Iraq Leave 79 Dead, 106 Wounded

Although bombings continued in and around Baghdad today, the deadliest blast took place in Diyala province, where a dozen dumped bodies were found in a river. Also, a militant group claimed to have launched mortars into Saudi Arabia as a warning. Overall, at least 79 people were killed and 106 more were wounded in the bloodshed.

A truck bomb at a produce market in Saidiya left 32 dead and 40 wounded. The driver had asked workers to unload the vehicle and walked away. Children were among the victims. In a separate attack, gunmen killed a soldier and wounded his brother at their home. A roadside bomb killed a soldier and a civilian, while three others were wounded in the blast.

Twelve kidnap victims were executed and dumped in a river in Diyala province.

In Baghdad, a sticky bomb placed on an army officers’ car killed his son and wounded five bystanders when it exploded in the Kasra neighborhood. Eight people were killed and 15 more were wounded when three bombs exploded in Amiriya. Gunmen attacked a shop in Bayaa where they killed two brothers, who owned the shop, and wounded two shoppers.

In Mosul, a gunman and a soldier were killed during clashes. Two gunmen were killed after they attacked and killed a preacher. A Peshmerga agent was assassinated. An I.E.D. wounded seven people. Two policemen were killed and three others were wounded in a clash. 8 10

A suicide bomber killed six soldiers and wounded 12 more in Taji.

Two people were killed and two more were wounded in a blast in Baquba.

In Suleimaniya, police were searching for the killer of the head of President Jalal Talabani’s security force. A shootout occurred when they discovered a suspect. The suspect and a policeman were killed.

Gunmen fired on a Sahwa leaders’ home in Shirqat where they killed a child and wounded his parents.

Two soldiers were wounding in a bombing in Qaim.

A bomb wounded two people in Buhriz.

Security forces killed an al-Qaeda leader in Tarmiya.

The head of Jaish al-Mukhtar claimed to have launched mortars into Saudi Arabia.

Author: Margaret Griffis

Margaret Griffis is a journalist from Miami Beach, Florida and has been covering Iraqi casualties for Antiwar.com since 2006.