Updated at 7:35 p.m. EDT, Aug. 10, 2009
About 72 Iraqis were killed and 356 more were wounded in a devastating day in Iraq. Once again, Ninewa province and Baghdad bore the brunt of the violence. No Coalition deaths were reported. Back in the U.S. though, the Spokane VA Center reported that they had underestimated the suicide rate among local vets. Also, an Iran exile group accused the Iraqi government of human rights violations and asked the Pentagaon to retake control of Camp Ashraf, where about 3,500 Iranian exiles reside.
Updated at 8:55 p.m. EDT, Aug. 9, 2009
A British contractor apparently killed two foreign contractors today in Baghdad’s Green Zone. At least seven Iraqis were killed and 24 more were wounded across the country, including one in the contractor incident. Meanwhile, a member of parliament’s defense committee said that only 10,000 U.S. troops would remain in Iraq by the middle of next year.
As happened last week, a violent prayer day was followed by relative peace. Only one Iraqi was reported killed today and three more were wounded.
Updated at 11:45 p.m. EDT, Aug. 8, 2009
Over three million Shi’ite pilgrims peacefully visited Karbala to observe the birthday of the 12th Imam, a ninth century religious leader. An increase in security there may have spared those pilgrims in Karbala, but attacks targeting Shi’ites killed dozens across central and northern Iraq. Overall, at least 61 Iraqis were killed and 338 more were wounded throughout the country. Also, an Iranian passport was discovered next to a burnt corpse.
Updated at 6:21 p.m. EDT, Aug. 6, 2009
At least 14 Iraqis were killed and 42 more were wounded in light attacks. Thousands of Shi’ite pilgrims are traveling to Karbala to take part in a festival honoring the Twelfth Imam.
Updated at 5:56 p.m. EDT, Aug. 5, 2009
At least 13 Iraqis were killed and 23 more were wounded in the latest attacks. Eleven Iraqi pilgrims were kidnapped as well. Also, a U.S. soldier died in a non-combat incident yesterday.
At least three Iraqis were killed and nine more were wounded in light violence. Karbala is on high alert for potential attacks ahead of Friday’s religious observance. Also, Gen. Ray Odierno publicly disagreed with a memo suggesting that U.S. troops could accelerate withdrawal from Iraq.
Updated at 7:15 p.m. EDT, Aug. 3, 2009
At least 20 Iraqis were killed and 65 more were wounded across Iraq, but Babil province took the hardest the hit with three fatal bombings. Another significant attack took place in Anbar. The DoD reported that one American soldier died on July 25 from wounds suffered two days earlier in an anti-tank grenade attack. Meanwhile, the Shi’ite group Asa’ib al-Haq renounced violence after meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki over the weekend; the extremist group has previously taken credit for killing Americans and kidnapping Britons.
Updated at 6:08 p.m. EDT, Aug. 2, 2009
At least 18 Iraqis were killed and 49 more were wounded mostly in two separate bombings. No Coalition deaths were reported; however, the remains of a Navy pilot, missing since the Persian Gulf War, were recovered from a burial site in Anbar province. Also, Prime Minister Maliki made his first trip to Kurdistan since taking office three years ago, perhaps hoping to stave off another war. Separately, former Saddam aide Tariq Aziz received a seven-year sentence for the forced relocation of Kurds.
Updated at 11:23 p.m. EST, Aug. 1, 2009
At least three Iraqis were killed and seven were wounded in light violence that came a day after a horrific spate of attacks on Baghdad mosques. One of the bombings today occurred at a mosque just south of the capital. Also, five more Iranian refugees were injured during renewed unrest at Camp Ashraf.