Updated at 5:45 p.m. EDT, May 18, 2010
At least four Iraqis were killed and one child was wounded in light violence. Witnesses also reported that a number of U.S. soldiers were wounded in a roadside bomb blast in Muqdadiya. Meanwhile, Britain’s Iraq war inquiry panel (Chilcot) traveled to the U.S. to investigate the case for the 2003 invasion.
At least five Iraqis were killed and five more were wounded in light violence that focused in Diyala province, where two Sunni imams were killed. Meanwhile, an Iraqi court threw out the disqualifications of nine candidates accused of ties to the Ba’ath Party.
At least eight Iraqis were killed and one more was wounded in unusually light violence. Seven of the dead were prisoners killed under mysterious circumstances earlier in the week. Also, the Iraqi government condemned yesterday’s statement from Saudi prince and intelligence chief Turki al-Faisal, who accused Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of trying to steal the election.
At least eight Iraqis were killed and 12 more were wounded in the latest attacks, which included an artillery strike from Iranian territory. No U.S. casualties were reported despite two direct attacks on troops. Also, it appears that P.M. Maliki is locked in to be the premier for another term.
Updated at 2:50 p.m. EDT, May 14, 2010
At least 29 Iraqis were killed and 128 more were wounded in three separate attacks in Iraq. The Islamic State in Iraq, meanwhile, has threatened new attacks after naming its new leader. Also, no fraud was detected during a recount of Baghdad province ballots.
The latest violence left 11 Iraqis dead and 52 more
wounded. Also, at least 20 attacks on Iraq’s power
grid are not only a costly annoyance but they also underscore the fragile
sense of security. Meanwhile, the
Pentagon is re-evaluating
the effectiveness of counter-insurgency efforts, even as the U.S. observes
the return of Sadrist power in the south.
Updated at 6:22 p.m. EDT, May 12, 2010
Casualties ticked back up again after a brief respite. At least 19 Iraqis were killed and another 68 were wounded in the latest violence. Meanwhile, many Iraqis, including security personnel, suspect that politicians mired in a power struggle are behind some of the recent attacks. Also, the De-Ba’athification committee issued conflicting statements on whether its election work is over.
Attacks tapered off significantly after one of the bloodiest days in months. Security was tightened at checkpoints, while Iraqi forces conducted house-to-house searches hoping to find those responsible for yesterday’s multiple attacks. Babel and Basra have announced mourning periods. Today, at least one Iraqi was killed and eight more were wounded in new attacks.
Updated at 12:30 p.m. EDT, May 11, 2010
At least 154 Iraqis were killed and 620 more were wounded in a staggering series of attacks across the country. Some of the attacks likely were coordinated, such as those on checkpoints in Baghdad. Others seemed completely random. Security officials were quick to blame al-Qaeda or foreign nations, but the attacks crossed the sectarian lines, striking Shi’ite, Sunni and Kurd targets. In an unusual switch, the worst attacks occurred south of the capital in Hilla, Suwayra and Basra, where such attacks after tapered off. Conflicting casualty figures often follow such large and wide-ranging attacks.
Even as the Independent Election Commission of Iraq is conducting a ballot recount in Baghdad, they are also preparing to deliver final vote tallies to the Supreme Court for ratification. Meanwhile, at least three Iraqis were killed and six more were wounded in unusually light violence. Also, the U.S. embassy has hired attorneys for indigent Iraqis held in prison; however, Iraqi detainees held by U.S. forces should have long ago been handed over to the Iraqis.
