Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Explosion in front of Sistani's office
Security
(Voices of Iraq) - An explosive charge went off on Monday afternoon in front of an office of top Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in the city of Hilla, causing material damage to the building, a police source said. "A local-made bomb was detonated in front of Al-Sistani's al-Mustafa cultural institution in central Hilla," the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
"The director of the institution lives near to the building, which was blown up," he also said, noting that no one was in the building during the explosion. Four al-Sistani's aides were killed in the past two months in the city of Najaf. Hilla, capital city of Babel province, lies 100 km south of Baghdad.
"The director of the institution lives near to the building, which was blown up," he also said, noting that no one was in the building during the explosion. Four al-Sistani's aides were killed in the past two months in the city of Najaf. Hilla, capital city of Babel province, lies 100 km south of Baghdad.
Labels: al-Mustafa cultural institution, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Hilla
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Karbala, Anbar provinces form security committee
Security
(Voices of Iraq) - The provinces of Karbala and Anbar agreed to form a joint security committee to better achieve security cooperation and to coordinate information, the Karbala governor on Wednesday. "The two provinces agreed in the meeting, which took place Tuesday in Hilla city, to form a joint security committee from the two provinces, their councils, and the security forces in coordination with the coalition forces to study the present situation and means of better developing it to preserve the administrational boundaries between them", Aqeel al-Khazaali, the governor of Karbala, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
"We agreed on securing the international highway to ensure safety of the passengers including pilgrims and visitors of holy shrines in the province, determining boundaries of security responsibility and areas of joint patrols, and securing the area of Kilometer 160 which lies on the highway between Iraq and Jordan ", continued the governor.
"We also agreed on the necessity of securing the area near Razazah Lake (150 km west of Karbala), exchange intelligence tips, establishing a hotline between the two sides in both operation rooms, reporting any operations within the borders between the two provinces to take the necessary measures, and assist in evacuating bodies of the killed within the geographical boundaries of Anbar province" he added.
"The meeting resulted in a form of cooperation between the two provinces to find joint investment projects that meet the needs of the population in the two provinces" said al-Khazaali. "The two provinces share administrational boundaries, tribal relations, and Islamic and national brotherhood that are considered the cornerstone of preserving the unity of Iraq ", explained al-Khazaali.
He pointed out that the two provinces demanded the central government to support this approach between them and to provide the necessary requirements to render the work of the joint committee a success. Karbala, which is 108 km south of Baghdad, shares administrational boundaries with Anbar, 45 km west of Baghdad.
"We agreed on securing the international highway to ensure safety of the passengers including pilgrims and visitors of holy shrines in the province, determining boundaries of security responsibility and areas of joint patrols, and securing the area of Kilometer 160 which lies on the highway between Iraq and Jordan ", continued the governor.
"We also agreed on the necessity of securing the area near Razazah Lake (150 km west of Karbala), exchange intelligence tips, establishing a hotline between the two sides in both operation rooms, reporting any operations within the borders between the two provinces to take the necessary measures, and assist in evacuating bodies of the killed within the geographical boundaries of Anbar province" he added.
"The meeting resulted in a form of cooperation between the two provinces to find joint investment projects that meet the needs of the population in the two provinces" said al-Khazaali. "The two provinces share administrational boundaries, tribal relations, and Islamic and national brotherhood that are considered the cornerstone of preserving the unity of Iraq ", explained al-Khazaali.
He pointed out that the two provinces demanded the central government to support this approach between them and to provide the necessary requirements to render the work of the joint committee a success. Karbala, which is 108 km south of Baghdad, shares administrational boundaries with Anbar, 45 km west of Baghdad.
Labels: Al Anbar, Aqeel al-Khazaali, Hilla, Karbala, Kilometer 160, Razazah Lake, security
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
(McClatchy Newspapers) - Roundup of violence in Iraq - Wednesday 16 May 2007
The daily Iraq violence report is compiled by McClatchy Newspapers in Baghdad from police, military and medical reports. This is not a comprehensive list of all violence in Iraq, much of which goes unreported. It’s posted without editing as transmitted to McClatchy’s Washington Bureau.
The daily Iraq violence report is compiled by McClatchy Newspapers in Baghdad from police, military and medical reports. This is not a comprehensive list of all violence in Iraq, much of which goes unreported. It’s posted without editing as transmitted to McClatchy’s Washington Bureau.
(Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq at 1100 GMT on Thursday:
* Indicates a new or updated entry
* DIWANIYA - At least three civilians were killed, including a woman, and four others wounded in clashes between militiamen and security forces in the Shi'ite city of Diwaniya, 180 km (112 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - Two civilians were killed and five wounded by a roadside bomb in the Diyala bridge area in southeastern Baghdad, police said.
* ISKANDARIYA - A roadside bomb killed one civilian and wounded three others in Iskandariya, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
HILLA - A policeman was killed and three of his family were wounded when a militant hurled a hand grenade at his home in Hilla, 100 km (60 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
* BASRA - Gunmen killed a police major along with his son in the southern Iraqi port city of Basra, police said.
* DIWANIYA - Gunmen killed a civil servant in a drive-by shooting in Diwaniya, police said. It was not clear why he was targeted.
* LATIFIYA - Police found two bodies bearing signs of torture and bullet wounds in the small town of Latifiya 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
* KIRKUK - Police found a bullet-riddled body in the ethnically mixed northern city of Kirkuk, police said.
* BAGHDAD - The Iraqi army killed six insurgents in different parts of Iraq over the last 24 hours, the Iraqi army said in a statement.
* Indicates a new or updated entry
* DIWANIYA - At least three civilians were killed, including a woman, and four others wounded in clashes between militiamen and security forces in the Shi'ite city of Diwaniya, 180 km (112 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - Two civilians were killed and five wounded by a roadside bomb in the Diyala bridge area in southeastern Baghdad, police said.
* ISKANDARIYA - A roadside bomb killed one civilian and wounded three others in Iskandariya, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
HILLA - A policeman was killed and three of his family were wounded when a militant hurled a hand grenade at his home in Hilla, 100 km (60 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
* BASRA - Gunmen killed a police major along with his son in the southern Iraqi port city of Basra, police said.
* DIWANIYA - Gunmen killed a civil servant in a drive-by shooting in Diwaniya, police said. It was not clear why he was targeted.
* LATIFIYA - Police found two bodies bearing signs of torture and bullet wounds in the small town of Latifiya 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
* KIRKUK - Police found a bullet-riddled body in the ethnically mixed northern city of Kirkuk, police said.
* BAGHDAD - The Iraqi army killed six insurgents in different parts of Iraq over the last 24 hours, the Iraqi army said in a statement.
Labels: Basra, Diwaniya, grenade, gunmen, Hilla, Iraqi Army, Iskandariyah, Kirkuk, Latifiyah, militias, roadside bombs
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
(Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq at 0930 GMT on Tuesday:
* denotes new or updated item.
DIYALA PROVINCE - A suicide car bomber killed nine U.S. soldiers and wounded 20 at a military base north of Baghdad on Monday, the U.S. military said. One Iraqi civilian was also wounded in the attack.
* BAGHDAD - U.S. forces detained 10 insurgents and discovered a weapons cache in Baghdad, the U.S. military said. Those detained were suspected of working with al Qaeda in Iraq and facilitating foreign fighters near Falluja.
* NASIRIYA - Three Australian soldiers were injured when an improvised explosive device hit their light armoured vehicle patrol near Nasiriya, 375 km (235 miles) southeast of Baghdad on Monday, the Australian military said.
BAQUBA - Gunmen wearing Iraqi army uniforms attacked homes in a town near Baquba north of Baghdad, killing six and wounding 15, police said. Six houses were set on fire.
BAGHDAD - Two car bombs exploded in a parking lot in front of the Iranian embassy in Baghdad's Salhiya neighbourhood, a Reuters photographer said. Police said four people were wounded. A total of four car bombs have exploded in the lot in the past 24 hours.
BAGHDAD - The bodies of 15 people were found shot in different districts of Baghdad on Monday, police said.
MOSUL - The bodies of five people were found shot in different districts of Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
NEAR KERBALA - A roadside bomb targeting a joint Iraqi-U.S. patrol killed three Iraqi soldiers and wounded four others near the holy city of Kerbala, 100 km south of Baghdad, on Monday, police said.
MUQDADIYA - A U.S. soldier died on Monday after a roadside bomb exploded near him in Muqdadiya, 90 km northeast of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
HILLA - A car bomb near a restaurant killed three people and wounded eight on Monday in Hilla, 100 km south of Baghdad, police said.
* denotes new or updated item.
DIYALA PROVINCE - A suicide car bomber killed nine U.S. soldiers and wounded 20 at a military base north of Baghdad on Monday, the U.S. military said. One Iraqi civilian was also wounded in the attack.
* BAGHDAD - U.S. forces detained 10 insurgents and discovered a weapons cache in Baghdad, the U.S. military said. Those detained were suspected of working with al Qaeda in Iraq and facilitating foreign fighters near Falluja.
* NASIRIYA - Three Australian soldiers were injured when an improvised explosive device hit their light armoured vehicle patrol near Nasiriya, 375 km (235 miles) southeast of Baghdad on Monday, the Australian military said.
BAQUBA - Gunmen wearing Iraqi army uniforms attacked homes in a town near Baquba north of Baghdad, killing six and wounding 15, police said. Six houses were set on fire.
BAGHDAD - Two car bombs exploded in a parking lot in front of the Iranian embassy in Baghdad's Salhiya neighbourhood, a Reuters photographer said. Police said four people were wounded. A total of four car bombs have exploded in the lot in the past 24 hours.
BAGHDAD - The bodies of 15 people were found shot in different districts of Baghdad on Monday, police said.
MOSUL - The bodies of five people were found shot in different districts of Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
NEAR KERBALA - A roadside bomb targeting a joint Iraqi-U.S. patrol killed three Iraqi soldiers and wounded four others near the holy city of Kerbala, 100 km south of Baghdad, on Monday, police said.
MUQDADIYA - A U.S. soldier died on Monday after a roadside bomb exploded near him in Muqdadiya, 90 km northeast of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
HILLA - A car bomb near a restaurant killed three people and wounded eight on Monday in Hilla, 100 km south of Baghdad, police said.
Labels: Baghdad, Baqouba, car bomb, Diyala, Hilla, IED, Mosul, Muqdadiya, Nasiriyah, roadside bombs, SVBIED, weapons cache
Friday, April 13, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
(Reuters) - Security developments in Iraq as of 1230 GMT on Friday:
MOSUL - Gunmen shot dead Mohammed Abd al-Hameed, a mosque imam in the northern city of Mosul, as he was on his way to his mosque, police said. Hameed was also a well-known figure in the Sunni Muslim Scholars' Association.
BAGHDAD - A roadside bomb wounded four policemen and one civilian when it exploded in the southern Baghdad district of Zaafaraniya, police said.
ISKANDARIYA - Several mortars rounds landed in al-Qaria al-Asria, a town near Iskandariya, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, wounding 10 people, police said.
KIRKUK - Gunmen seriously wounded two people when they attacked a barber shop in southern Kirkuk, about 250 km (155 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
HILLA - Gunmen opened fire on the Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party's offices near Hilla, wounding three guards, police said.
BAGHDAD - U.S. forces captured 14 suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq insurgents during operations on Friday, the U.S. military said.
MOSUL - Gunmen shot dead Mohammed Abd al-Hameed, a mosque imam in the northern city of Mosul, as he was on his way to his mosque, police said. Hameed was also a well-known figure in the Sunni Muslim Scholars' Association.
BAGHDAD - A roadside bomb wounded four policemen and one civilian when it exploded in the southern Baghdad district of Zaafaraniya, police said.
ISKANDARIYA - Several mortars rounds landed in al-Qaria al-Asria, a town near Iskandariya, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, wounding 10 people, police said.
KIRKUK - Gunmen seriously wounded two people when they attacked a barber shop in southern Kirkuk, about 250 km (155 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
HILLA - Gunmen opened fire on the Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party's offices near Hilla, wounding three guards, police said.
BAGHDAD - U.S. forces captured 14 suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq insurgents during operations on Friday, the U.S. military said.
Labels: Hilla, Iskandariyah, Kirkuk, Mohammed Abd al-Hameed, mortar rounds, Mosul, roadside bombs, Zaafaraniya
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
(Reuters) - Security developments in Iraq as of 0830 GMT on Wednesday. Follow the link for further information.
BAGHDAD - Police said they found the bodies of nine people shot on Tuesday in different districts of Baghdad.
BAGHDAD - Gunmen killed Abdul Abbas Hashim, a general director in the Electricity Ministry, along with his driver in a drive-by shooting in northern Baghdad, police and the Electricity Ministry said.
HILLA - A roadside bomb targeting a police patrol killed a policeman and wounded three others in the Shi'ite city of Hilla, 100 km (60 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - U.S. forces killed an insurgent, detained 13 others and destroyed several weapons caches during a five-day operation in the Arab Jibour area of southern Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
Labels: Baghdad, Hilla, roadside bombs, weapons cache
Friday, April 06, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
(Reuters) - Security developments in Iraq as of 0600 GMT on Friday:
* denotes a new or updated item.
* HILLA - Sheikh Karim Omran al-Shafi, a tribal leader, was seriously wounded when gunmen opened fire on his vehicle in the Shi'ite city of Hilla, 100 km (62 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
* BAGHDAD - Eleven bodies were found in different parts of the city, police said.
* BAGHDAD - A sniper killed two people in the Amil district in southwestern Baghdad, the Interior Ministry said.
* TAL AFAR - Four bodies, including that of a child, were found in Tal Afar, about 420 km (260) miles northwest of Baghdad, police said.
* denotes a new or updated item.
* HILLA - Sheikh Karim Omran al-Shafi, a tribal leader, was seriously wounded when gunmen opened fire on his vehicle in the Shi'ite city of Hilla, 100 km (62 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
* BAGHDAD - Eleven bodies were found in different parts of the city, police said.
* BAGHDAD - A sniper killed two people in the Amil district in southwestern Baghdad, the Interior Ministry said.
* TAL AFAR - Four bodies, including that of a child, were found in Tal Afar, about 420 km (260) miles northwest of Baghdad, police said.
Labels: Baghdad, Hilla, Sheikh Karim Omran al-Shafi, Tal Afar
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Reinforcements sent to Hilla as curfew is imposed
Security
(Azzaman) - With U.S. and Iraqi troops focused on placating Baghdad, tensions are rising elsewhere in the country. Baghdad itself is not quiet and the troops have apparently failed to restore law and order to its turbulent streets and districts. But while U.S. and Iraqi commanders say the level of violence has dropped in the city – a claim that cannot be substantiated – attacks were surging in areas surrounding Baghdad.
For example, the authorities in the Province of Babel had to place the city of Hilla, the provincial capital, under strict curfew over the weekend for fear of major attacks. The government has sent more reinforcements to Babel and troops with armored vehicles roam Hilla and other provincial towns while U.S. helicopter gun ships hover around.
In another development, U.S. warplanes attacked a village close to al-Sadr city, west of Baghdad, killing 16 people and injuring many others. Neither the U.S. nor the Iraqi government has commented on the reason that prompted the strike which has infuriated the people in the village of Sabaa, the target of the air raid.
For example, the authorities in the Province of Babel had to place the city of Hilla, the provincial capital, under strict curfew over the weekend for fear of major attacks. The government has sent more reinforcements to Babel and troops with armored vehicles roam Hilla and other provincial towns while U.S. helicopter gun ships hover around.
In another development, U.S. warplanes attacked a village close to al-Sadr city, west of Baghdad, killing 16 people and injuring many others. Neither the U.S. nor the Iraqi government has commented on the reason that prompted the strike which has infuriated the people in the village of Sabaa, the target of the air raid.
Labels: curfew, Hilla, reinforcements
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Bombings continue across Iraq
Security
(AP) - A parked car exploded near a hospital in Baghdad's main Shiite district on Saturday as a series of bombings killed at least 10 people and wounded dozens in Iraq, police said. The blast in Sadr City occurred about 10:30 a.m. and was targeting street vendors and pedestrians near the hospital. Police said at least five people were killed and 15 wounded.
Another parked car bomb struck a gas station an hour earlier in the Shiite city of Hillah, killing at least two people and wounding 22, provincial police said. The city, 60 miles south of Baghdad, has been the site of some of the deadliest blasts since the war started four years ago, including a double suicide bombing against a crowd of Shiite pilgrims that killed 120 people on March 6.
In northern Iraq, a car exploded about 7 a.m. after the driver parked it near Iraqis looking for work in the center of Tuz Khormato, 130 miles north of Baghdad. The driver and two workers were killed and 11 others wounded in the attack, police Col. Abbas Mohammed Amin said. He said the driver intended to wait until more workers had gathered before detonating the explosives but they went off prematurely, preventing a higher casualty toll.
Another parked car bomb struck a gas station an hour earlier in the Shiite city of Hillah, killing at least two people and wounding 22, provincial police said. The city, 60 miles south of Baghdad, has been the site of some of the deadliest blasts since the war started four years ago, including a double suicide bombing against a crowd of Shiite pilgrims that killed 120 people on March 6.
In northern Iraq, a car exploded about 7 a.m. after the driver parked it near Iraqis looking for work in the center of Tuz Khormato, 130 miles north of Baghdad. The driver and two workers were killed and 11 others wounded in the attack, police Col. Abbas Mohammed Amin said. He said the driver intended to wait until more workers had gathered before detonating the explosives but they went off prematurely, preventing a higher casualty toll.
Labels: car bombs, Hilla, Sadr City, Tuz Kharmatu
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Sunni mosque attacked in retaliation
Security
(Reuters) - Gunmen attacked a Sunni mosque south of Baghdad on Sunday, setting it ablaze a day after a suicide truck bomber struck near a Shi'ite mosque in the same area, police said. Police in Hilla, close to the town of Haswa, where the attack occurred, said at least four people were wounded. An Interior Ministry official said a curfew had been imposed.
Gunmen stormed the mosque in Haswa, a religiously mixed town about 50 km (35 miles) south of the Iraqi capital, and destroyed its minaret in a blast. The building was set on fire, a police official said, describing it as an apparent revenge attack. A suicide truck bomber exploded near a Shi'ite mosque in Haswa on Saturday, killing 14 and wounding 21, Hilla police said. The provincial health directorate and the Interior Ministry official put the toll at 16.
Gunmen stormed the mosque in Haswa, a religiously mixed town about 50 km (35 miles) south of the Iraqi capital, and destroyed its minaret in a blast. The building was set on fire, a police official said, describing it as an apparent revenge attack. A suicide truck bomber exploded near a Shi'ite mosque in Haswa on Saturday, killing 14 and wounding 21, Hilla police said. The provincial health directorate and the Interior Ministry official put the toll at 16.
Labels: Haswa, Hilla, Iraq violence, sectarianism
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Chlorine bombs in Falluja while police targeted in Mosul, Hilla
Security
(Reuters) - Two suicide truck bombers driving tanks filled with chlorine killed at least eight people and 85 were made ill on Friday in the western Iraqi town of Falluja, hospital sources said on Saturday. The first attack was at the entrance of Amiriyat Falluja, a large housing complex south of Falluja, that killed six people including policemen and making 79 ill, including 27 children.
The second bomber targeted a tribal leader opposed to al Qaeda nearby when he blew up his tanker outside the man's home, killing two people and making six ill because of exposure to the chemical. Militants have used chlorine as a weapon in the past. At least two bombings involving chlorine killed eight people in February.
The U.S. military said they discovered an al Qaeda car bomb factory last month near Falluja that was constructing bombs with chlorine. The gas causes severe burns when breathed in and can even cause death.
The second bomber targeted a tribal leader opposed to al Qaeda nearby when he blew up his tanker outside the man's home, killing two people and making six ill because of exposure to the chemical. Militants have used chlorine as a weapon in the past. At least two bombings involving chlorine killed eight people in February.
The U.S. military said they discovered an al Qaeda car bomb factory last month near Falluja that was constructing bombs with chlorine. The gas causes severe burns when breathed in and can even cause death.
Two separate bomb blasts killed two policemen and wounded four others in Iraq on Saturday, as the United Nations urged the world to help rebuild the country's war-shattered economy. A policeman from a special task force was killed and four wounded when a roadside bomb exploded in the mainly Shiite provincial capital of Hilla, south of Baghdad, police Lieutenant Kadhim al-Aaraji said. A civilian was also wounded.
Aaraji said the bombers targeted Brigadier General Abbas al-Juburi, commander of the task force, as his convoy was passing in Hilla's southern district of Ndir. The brigadier escaped the attack. A similar blast targeting another police patrol in the main northern city of Mosul killed one policeman and wounded another, said police chief Brigadier General Abdel Karim Khalaf al-Juburi.
Aaraji said the bombers targeted Brigadier General Abbas al-Juburi, commander of the task force, as his convoy was passing in Hilla's southern district of Ndir. The brigadier escaped the attack. A similar blast targeting another police patrol in the main northern city of Mosul killed one policeman and wounded another, said police chief Brigadier General Abdel Karim Khalaf al-Juburi.
Labels: Brigadier General Abbas al-Juburi, chlorine bombs, Fallujah, Hilla, Mosul
Friday, February 16, 2007
$50 million hospital for Hilla
Reconstruction
(Azzaman) Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has laid the foundation for a $50 million hospital for the city of Hilla, 90 kilometers south of Baghdad. The 400-bed hospital will be built by Iraqi contractors is expected to be ready in two years. The nearly 65,000 square meters allocated for the hospital will include several annexes among them residential units, gardens and car parks. Meantime, Maliki has allowed the University of Babel in Hilla to add a former army camp to its campus. The university is to build a hostels for its students there as well as a veterinary college.
Labels: al-Maliki, Hilla, hospitals
