Sunday, May 27, 2007
Khadra Bridge Blown Up; Curfew In Fallujah To Search For Car Bombs
Security
(Al Mada Newspaper AR.) - 26 MAY - Security sources said, “On Friday, an IED explosion targeted the Khadra Bridge in Baghdad. The explosion led to the destruction of a huge part of the bridge.” The sources added, “This Bridge connects the highway to the Khadra and Jamiaa areas. Unidentified people planted IEDs under the bridge. When the IEDs exploded, it blew up part of the bridge. The affected part of the bridge is four meters. The explosions did not kill or wound anyone.”
In other news, a Fallujah Police source stated, “A car bomb exploded near an IP checkpoint in the Hay Al Shurta area of Fallujah during the Friday Prayer. The source added, “The car bomb explosion killed two people and wounded nine. All of them lived in the houses near Al Abd School which the IPs made as a camp.” The source also said, “The explosion destroyed three houses and a number of stores.”
In related news, a source close to Fallujah’s Mayor said, “Fallujah authorities started a curfew in Fallujah. The curfew will continue indefinitely. The purpose of the curfew is to look for car bombs in the Fallujah area.” He added, “Many 4X4 trucks which belong to the Anbar Salvation Council went to Fallujah to support the IPs and Iraqi Army.”
In related news, yesterday, an IED explosion targeted a convoy of a foreign security company in the Kizayza area, north of Basrah. Eyewitnesses said, “The explosion destroyed one truck and killed everyone in it.” After the explosion, clashes occurred between vehicles in the convoy and unidentified gunmen.
In other news, a Fallujah Police source stated, “A car bomb exploded near an IP checkpoint in the Hay Al Shurta area of Fallujah during the Friday Prayer. The source added, “The car bomb explosion killed two people and wounded nine. All of them lived in the houses near Al Abd School which the IPs made as a camp.” The source also said, “The explosion destroyed three houses and a number of stores.”
In related news, a source close to Fallujah’s Mayor said, “Fallujah authorities started a curfew in Fallujah. The curfew will continue indefinitely. The purpose of the curfew is to look for car bombs in the Fallujah area.” He added, “Many 4X4 trucks which belong to the Anbar Salvation Council went to Fallujah to support the IPs and Iraqi Army.”
In related news, yesterday, an IED explosion targeted a convoy of a foreign security company in the Kizayza area, north of Basrah. Eyewitnesses said, “The explosion destroyed one truck and killed everyone in it.” After the explosion, clashes occurred between vehicles in the convoy and unidentified gunmen.
Labels: Anbar Salvation Council, Basrah, car bomb, curfew, Fallujah, IED, Khadra bridge, private security companies
Monday, May 14, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
Roundup of violence in Iraq - 13 May 2007
(McClatchy Newspapers) - 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.
(McClatchy Newspapers) - 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 1400 GMT on Monday:
* Denotes new or updated item.
BAGHDAD - A roadside bomb targeting a police patrol killed one person and wounded 13, including four policemen, in Zaafaraniya district of southern Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - A car bomb in a parking lot killed one person and wounded four others in the central Karrada district of Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - A car bomb killed one person and wounded three others in Palestine Street in northeastern Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - The bodies of 22 people were found in different districts of Baghdad on Sunday, police said.
* BAGHDAD - A suicide car bomber killed two Iraqi soldiers and wounded four others at a major intersection in western Baghdad, police said.
* NEAR BASRA - A roadside bomb wounded six Danish soldiers just north of Basra, British military spokesman Major David Gell said.
MOSUL - The bodies of six people, including a policeman, were found shot in different districts of the northern city of Mosul on Sunday, police said.
MOSUL - Gunmen killed two former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party in Mosul on Sunday, police said.
* Denotes new or updated item.
BAGHDAD - A roadside bomb targeting a police patrol killed one person and wounded 13, including four policemen, in Zaafaraniya district of southern Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - A car bomb in a parking lot killed one person and wounded four others in the central Karrada district of Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - A car bomb killed one person and wounded three others in Palestine Street in northeastern Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - The bodies of 22 people were found in different districts of Baghdad on Sunday, police said.
* BAGHDAD - A suicide car bomber killed two Iraqi soldiers and wounded four others at a major intersection in western Baghdad, police said.
* NEAR BASRA - A roadside bomb wounded six Danish soldiers just north of Basra, British military spokesman Major David Gell said.
MOSUL - The bodies of six people, including a policeman, were found shot in different districts of the northern city of Mosul on Sunday, police said.
MOSUL - Gunmen killed two former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party in Mosul on Sunday, police said.
Labels: Baath Party, Basra, car bomb, Danes, IED, Karrada, Mosul, police, Zaafaraniya
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Islamic State of Iraq shows nine captured security guards
(SITE) - The Islamic State of Iraq, in several communiqués issued to jihadist forums between Monday, May 7, 2007, and Tuesday, May 8, reported harvest of operations reports for Baghdad and Diyala, and claims for attacks, of which in three, the group provides details for a large-scale operation Samarra and attacks in Baquba and Abu Ghraib.
The group also issued an 8:16 minute video today through al-Furqan Foundation, showing nine captured employees from the Iraqi Interior and Defense Ministries, including five officers ranging in rank from first lieutenant to captain. Each individual states their name and position, and the Islamic State makes the same demands of the Iraqi government for their release as they have made in prior arrests: giving a 72-hour deadline for the release of Sunni Muslim women from prison and for those Shi’ite police officers who allegedly raped Sabrin al-Janabi and women in Tal Afar to be turned over.
In Baquba, in the governorate of Diyala, yesterday, the Islamic State claims its Mujahideen detonated a large improvised explosive device (IED) on a Stryker armored vehicle that exploded with such intensity that it flipped a vehicle behind the Stryker. Fifteen American soldiers and a journalist who accompanied them are stated to have been killed, and vehicles on the scene were left burning for many hours. Media reports indicate that Dmitry Chebotayev, a Russian photographer, was killed in this attack along with six American soldiers. The previous day, Saturday, May 5th, a suicide bomber from the Islamic State detonated his car on a gathering of volunteers for the Iraqi army in Abu Ghraib. The attack, which was referenced in the statement of warning from the Islamic State’s Ministry of War to army volunteers, allegedly killed not less than 100 and injured another 150.
Labels: Al-Furqan Foundation, Dmitry Chebotayev, IED, Interior Ministry forces, Islamic State of Iraq, Russian photographer, Sabrin al-Janabi, Stryker
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, March 30, 2007
U.S. military to use explosive-sniffing robots to detect roadside bombs
Defense, Business
(Zeenews) - The US military -- increasing its reliance on robots in war -- soon will be using explosive-sniffing robots to better detect roadside bombs which account for more than 70 per cent of the US casualties in Iraq. 'Fido' is the first robot with an explosives sensor integrated into its body. Irobot Corp. is filling the military's first order of 100 in this southwest Ohio city and will begin shipping the robots over the next few months. There are nearly 5,000 robots in Iraq and Afghanistan, up from about 150 in 2004. Soldiers use them to search caves and buildings for insurgents, detect mines and ferret out roadside and car bombs.
As the war in Iraq enters its fifth year, the US government is spending more money on military robots and the two major us robot-makers have increased production. Foster-Miller Inc., of Waltham, Massachusetts, just delivered 1,000 new robots to the military. Irobot, of Burlington, Massachusetts, cranked out 385 robots in 2006, up from 252 in 2005. The government will spend a total of about USD 1.7 billion on ground-based military robots between fiscal 2006 and 2012, according to Bill Thomasmeyer, head of the National Centre for Defence Robotics, a Congressionally funded consortium of 160 companies, universities and government labs. That's up from USD 100 million in fiscal 2004.
Labels: Fido, Foster-Miller Inc., IED, Irobot Corp., roadside bombs, robots
Friday, March 16, 2007
Insurgents target Strykers in Baqouba
Security
(AP) - Nearly 100 Strykers, armored troop carriers with 50-caliber machine guns, were called north from Baghdad into Diyala and its capital Baqouba— yet again — to rout Sunni insurgents, many who recently fled the month-old Baghdad security operation. The fighters have renewed their campaign of bombings and killings just 35 miles northeast of the capital as the war enters its fifth year. Diyala province is quickly becoming as dangerous as Anbar province, the Sunni insurgent bastion west of Baghdad.
By day's end, one soldier was dead, 12 wounded and two Strykers destroyed. The Americans said dozens of insurgents were killed but gave no specific number. It was a bloody first day for the 2nd Infantry Division's 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment — the crack Stryker battalion dispatched from Baghdad's northern suburbs. "They threw everything at us — RPGs, mortars — and a guy even tossed a grenade just in front of my vehicle," said Capt. Huber Parsons, the 28-year-old commander of the 5-20's Attack company. "But the most devastating was the IEDs," the Coral Gables, Fla., native said. He was talking about improvised explosive devices — roadside bombs.
One Stryker was lost in a particularly sophisticated ambush. Struck head-on by an IED, the rubber-tired armored vehicle was swallowed up in the bomb crater. Insurgents emerged from hiding, firing RPGs in unison.
The Stryker crew was trapped. One U.S. soldier was killed. All nine other crew members were wounded, though six later returned to duty. The other Stryker was destroyed when a roadside bomb exploded as the armored vehicle drove over it. The nine-man squad got out alive, three with injuries.
Violence has risen dramatically in Diyala since the Feb. 14 launch of the Baghdad security operation. Insurgents have slowly been taking control for months, however. Attacks on American forces in the province have shot up 70 percent since July, according to military figures. The Stryker group sent to fight the insurgents was hand-picked by Gen. Ray Odierno, the second in command of all U.S. forces in Iraq. It marked the opening of a new front in the Baghdad security operation. The Stryker group came to Baqouba on Tuesday full of optimism about pacifying Diyala, as they did earlier in parts of Baghdad and in the northern city of Mosul. Confidence faded Wednesday in the hail of insurgent fire and news of casualties among comrades.
By day's end, one soldier was dead, 12 wounded and two Strykers destroyed. The Americans said dozens of insurgents were killed but gave no specific number. It was a bloody first day for the 2nd Infantry Division's 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment — the crack Stryker battalion dispatched from Baghdad's northern suburbs. "They threw everything at us — RPGs, mortars — and a guy even tossed a grenade just in front of my vehicle," said Capt. Huber Parsons, the 28-year-old commander of the 5-20's Attack company. "But the most devastating was the IEDs," the Coral Gables, Fla., native said. He was talking about improvised explosive devices — roadside bombs.
One Stryker was lost in a particularly sophisticated ambush. Struck head-on by an IED, the rubber-tired armored vehicle was swallowed up in the bomb crater. Insurgents emerged from hiding, firing RPGs in unison.
The Stryker crew was trapped. One U.S. soldier was killed. All nine other crew members were wounded, though six later returned to duty. The other Stryker was destroyed when a roadside bomb exploded as the armored vehicle drove over it. The nine-man squad got out alive, three with injuries.
Violence has risen dramatically in Diyala since the Feb. 14 launch of the Baghdad security operation. Insurgents have slowly been taking control for months, however. Attacks on American forces in the province have shot up 70 percent since July, according to military figures. The Stryker group sent to fight the insurgents was hand-picked by Gen. Ray Odierno, the second in command of all U.S. forces in Iraq. It marked the opening of a new front in the Baghdad security operation. The Stryker group came to Baqouba on Tuesday full of optimism about pacifying Diyala, as they did earlier in parts of Baghdad and in the northern city of Mosul. Confidence faded Wednesday in the hail of insurgent fire and news of casualties among comrades.
COMMENT: On March 8th, the Islamic State of Iraq posted an internet video profiling different kinds of armored vehicle used by U.S. forces and showed successful attacks against each type. The Stryker was not among these and the aggressive attack indicates the insurgents were testing its capacities as well as trying to destroy the moral of the troops on their first day. It appears they were successful on both counts. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: Baqouba, Diyala, IED, Islamic State of Iraq, Stryker
