Monday, September 10, 2007
National Dialogue Front rejons parliament
Politics
(CNN) -- A small Sunni Arab bloc ended its boycott of Iraq's parliament Saturday, boosting the appearance of national unity just days before key reports are due in Washington on Iraq's progress. Saleh al-Mutlaq, who leads the National Dialogue Front, told CNN that the Sunni Arab group's 11 members of parliament returned to the 275-seat legislature after their demands were met.
"The government has agreed to allocate funds to displaced families ... and it has agreed to delay negotiations on the oil law until after Ramadan," he said in a telephone interview from Amman, Jordan. Ramadan is the Muslim month of fasting, which begins next week. "We are therefore today heeding the call of the speaker to end our boycott."
Al-Mutlaq said the decision also was based in part on some U.S. policy changes in Iraq. "Americans were only talking with the Kurdish bloc and the Shiite bloc. Now, they are starting to be somehow fair," he said. "They are working with tribes to get rid of al Qaeda and putting pressure on the militias."
"The government has agreed to allocate funds to displaced families ... and it has agreed to delay negotiations on the oil law until after Ramadan," he said in a telephone interview from Amman, Jordan. Ramadan is the Muslim month of fasting, which begins next week. "We are therefore today heeding the call of the speaker to end our boycott."
Al-Mutlaq said the decision also was based in part on some U.S. policy changes in Iraq. "Americans were only talking with the Kurdish bloc and the Shiite bloc. Now, they are starting to be somehow fair," he said. "They are working with tribes to get rid of al Qaeda and putting pressure on the militias."
Iraq's parliament is preparing to tackle key legislation in response to U.S. benchmarks aimed at measuring Iraq's progress toward national unity. Gen. David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker are to appear before Congress this week to present their assessments. "We are hoping that the Americans are realizing that the sectarian parties or Islamic parties cannot govern Iraq, and they should support the national liberal trend in Iraq," al-Mutlaq said.
In spite of the political progress, at least 15 civilians were killed in separate explosions around Iraq, officials said Saturday. At least 10 people were killed and 30 wounded when a suicide car bomb exploded Saturday evening outside a police station in the Baghdad neighborhood of Sadr City, an Interior Ministry official said. The bomb went off at 6:30 p.m. (10:30 a.m. ET) in the densely populated and predominantly Shiite district.
A hand grenade exploded in a market south of the capital in Kufa, killing at least three Iraqi civilians and wounding six others Saturday afternoon, Najaf police said. Following the blast, police said Kufa and Najaf -- both major Shiite cities -- were shut down for two hours.
In spite of the political progress, at least 15 civilians were killed in separate explosions around Iraq, officials said Saturday. At least 10 people were killed and 30 wounded when a suicide car bomb exploded Saturday evening outside a police station in the Baghdad neighborhood of Sadr City, an Interior Ministry official said. The bomb went off at 6:30 p.m. (10:30 a.m. ET) in the densely populated and predominantly Shiite district.
A hand grenade exploded in a market south of the capital in Kufa, killing at least three Iraqi civilians and wounding six others Saturday afternoon, Najaf police said. Following the blast, police said Kufa and Najaf -- both major Shiite cities -- were shut down for two hours.
Labels: Kufa, lockdown, National Dialogue Front, Sadr City, Saleh al-Mutlaq, suicide car bomber
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Mass funerals in Kirkuk after triple bombing killed 80
Security
(Al Jazeera) - The northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk has held mass funerals after a lorry and two car bombs killed up to 80 people.Dozens of men carried the bodies of their relatives from morgues in lorries and taxis on Tuesday. The burials came a day after a suicide bomber detonated a vehicle near the headquarters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
Minutes later after the attack, a second bomber struck the Haseer market, 700 metres away. Kirkuk residents said that the carnage was aimed at splitting the city and triggering sectarian violence. "The explosions are meant to incite sectarianism among the people of Kirkuk," said Sheikh Ismail al-Hadidi, a Sunni tribesman. The massive lorry bomb carved a huge crater ringed with smoking wreckage, while the streets of Kirkuk were deserted as pedestrians kept indoors, the AFP news agency reported.
Minutes later after the attack, a second bomber struck the Haseer market, 700 metres away. Kirkuk residents said that the carnage was aimed at splitting the city and triggering sectarian violence. "The explosions are meant to incite sectarianism among the people of Kirkuk," said Sheikh Ismail al-Hadidi, a Sunni tribesman. The massive lorry bomb carved a huge crater ringed with smoking wreckage, while the streets of Kirkuk were deserted as pedestrians kept indoors, the AFP news agency reported.
Police vehicles patrolled the city in a bid to deter further attacks. "The deployment of police will give us some comfort," said Omar Abdullah, a baker and one of the few local shopkeepers to open after the blasts. "However, the explosions have left no work for me," he said. Kirkuk's policemen were shocked by the blasts. Aras Ghafour, a policeman, said: "Yesterday's catastrophe was unprecedented. The charred and mutilated bodies stunned us. We are human beings, after all." "What should we do when a bomber wants to kill himself and innocent people?" "The challenge is big and the situation is serious," he said.
More than two dozen of the 185 wounded are in a serious condition and were transferred to the Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah for treatment. A joint statement by Ryan Crocker, US ambassador to Iraq and general David Petraeus, the head of US troops, said: "This attack is another sad example of the nature of the enemy and its use of indiscriminate violence to kill innocent citizens."
Since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, Kirkuk’s political status has been contested by the city's Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen. Tensions have heightened in recent months ahead of a possible referendum by the end of the year to decide whether Kirkuk will join the Kurdish region. The city's Turkmen and Arab communities have demanded that it be postponed until land claims can be settled.
Saddam Hussein tried to 'Arabise' the northern region in the 1970s.Thousands of Kurds were driven from their homes and Arabs from around Iraq moved into the region with land grants and cash payouts. In 2003, Kurds streamed back into Kirkuk and now control the local government and much of the security forces.
Saddam Hussein tried to 'Arabise' the northern region in the 1970s.Thousands of Kurds were driven from their homes and Arabs from around Iraq moved into the region with land grants and cash payouts. In 2003, Kurds streamed back into Kirkuk and now control the local government and much of the security forces.
Labels: Kirkuk, PUK, suicide car bomber
Monday, July 16, 2007
Twin car bombings kill 80 in Kirkuk
Security
(AP) - Twin suicide car bombings exploded within 20 minutes of each other in the northern city of Kirkuk on Monday, killing at least 80 people and wounding around 150 in attacks targeting a Kurdish political office and ripping through an outdoor market, police said. The attacks began around noon when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-packed truck near the concrete blast walls of the headquarters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the party of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.
The explosion blasted a 10-yard-deep crater in the pavement and collapsed part of the roof of the one-story PUK office. Outside the offices, the burnt shells of more than two dozen vehicles were in the street. Soon after, the second bomber attacked the Haseer market, 700 yards away, destroying stalls and cars, said Kirkuk police Brig. Sarhat Qadir.
The outdoor Haseer market, with stalls of vegetable and fruit sellers, is frequented by Kurds in Kirkuk, a city where tensions are high between the Kurdish and Arab populations. At least 80 people were killed and around 140 wounded, said police Brig. Burhan Tayeb Taha. The attack came just over a week after one of the Iraq conflict's deadliest suicide attacks hit a village about 50 miles south of Kirkuk, killing more than 160 people.
Iraqi officials have said Sunni insurgents are moving further north to carry out attacks, fleeing U.S. offensives in and around Baghdad, including in the city of Baqouba, a stronghold of extremists on the capital's northwestern doorstep. The month-old sweeps aim to pacify the capital and boost the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
The explosion blasted a 10-yard-deep crater in the pavement and collapsed part of the roof of the one-story PUK office. Outside the offices, the burnt shells of more than two dozen vehicles were in the street. Soon after, the second bomber attacked the Haseer market, 700 yards away, destroying stalls and cars, said Kirkuk police Brig. Sarhat Qadir.
The outdoor Haseer market, with stalls of vegetable and fruit sellers, is frequented by Kurds in Kirkuk, a city where tensions are high between the Kurdish and Arab populations. At least 80 people were killed and around 140 wounded, said police Brig. Burhan Tayeb Taha. The attack came just over a week after one of the Iraq conflict's deadliest suicide attacks hit a village about 50 miles south of Kirkuk, killing more than 160 people.
Iraqi officials have said Sunni insurgents are moving further north to carry out attacks, fleeing U.S. offensives in and around Baghdad, including in the city of Baqouba, a stronghold of extremists on the capital's northwestern doorstep. The month-old sweeps aim to pacify the capital and boost the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
COMMENT: Retribution attacks are likely to increase in the Kirkuk area during the run-up to Article 140 of the constitution which states a referendum will be held on the status of the oil-rich, multi-ethnic Kirkuk, which will determine whether it will become part of Kurdistan or Iraq. The referendum was supposed to be held in September but the central Baghdad government and the Kurdistan Regional Government are in dispute over whether to hold it now or delay it.
Although insurgent activity can never be ruled out in order to stoke sectarian violence, it is possible the bombings were carried out by the other minorities in Kirkuk who do not want to become part of Kurdistan. However, the attack does bear the hall marks of Sunni insurgents. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: Haseer market, Kirkuk, PUK, suicide car bomber, Sunni insurgents
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
(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 1000 GMT on Thursday:
* denotes new or updated item.
* FALLUJA - A suicide car bomb targeting mourners at a funeral killed at least 27 people and wounded more than 30 others in Falluja, 50 km (35 miles) west of Baghdad, hospital and police officials said.
* BAGHDAD - At least two people were killed and 15 wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near a group of day labourers in Baghdad's Shi'ite Sadr city district, police said.
* SULAIMAN BEK - Six policemen were killed and six wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near their patrol in the town of Sulaiman Bek, 250 km north of Baghdad, police said.
ANBAR - Two U.S. soldiers were killed in combat on Wednesday in Anbar Province, the U.S. military said.
NEAR KIRKUK - Saboteurs set an oil well on fire in a town near Kirkuk in northern Iraq, police said.
* denotes new or updated item.
* FALLUJA - A suicide car bomb targeting mourners at a funeral killed at least 27 people and wounded more than 30 others in Falluja, 50 km (35 miles) west of Baghdad, hospital and police officials said.
* BAGHDAD - At least two people were killed and 15 wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near a group of day labourers in Baghdad's Shi'ite Sadr city district, police said.
* SULAIMAN BEK - Six policemen were killed and six wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near their patrol in the town of Sulaiman Bek, 250 km north of Baghdad, police said.
ANBAR - Two U.S. soldiers were killed in combat on Wednesday in Anbar Province, the U.S. military said.
NEAR KIRKUK - Saboteurs set an oil well on fire in a town near Kirkuk in northern Iraq, police said.
Labels: Al Anbar, Fallujah, Kirkuk, oil well, policemen, roadside bombs, Sadr City, suicide car bomber, Sulaimen Bek
27 killed by car bomber at funeral
Security
(Reuters) - At least 27 people were killed and dozens wounded on Thursday when a suicide bomber in a car packed with explosives drove into a crowd of mourners at a funeral in Falluja, west of Baghdad, police said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack in Falluja in Iraq's restive western Anbar province, but police said the funeral was being held for a local businessman opposed to Sunni Islamist al Qaeda.
The group is waging a campaign of bombings and shootings against Sunni Arab tribal leaders, politicians and others in western Anbar province who have formed an alliance against them. The bomber targeted mourners in a funeral procession for Allawi al-Isawi, a local contractor in Falluja, 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad, who was killed earlier on Thursday, police officer Jamal Anfous said.
As mourners walked down a main street holding aloft Isawi's coffin, the bomber drove into the crowd and blew himself up. A doctor at a local hospital, Ahmed al-Ani, said 27 were killed and more than 30 wounded.
The commander of U.S. troops in Anbar, a stronghold of the Sunni Arab-led insurgency, said last week that al Qaeda accounted for 75 percent of militants in and around Falluja.
The group is waging a campaign of bombings and shootings against Sunni Arab tribal leaders, politicians and others in western Anbar province who have formed an alliance against them. The bomber targeted mourners in a funeral procession for Allawi al-Isawi, a local contractor in Falluja, 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad, who was killed earlier on Thursday, police officer Jamal Anfous said.
As mourners walked down a main street holding aloft Isawi's coffin, the bomber drove into the crowd and blew himself up. A doctor at a local hospital, Ahmed al-Ani, said 27 were killed and more than 30 wounded.
The commander of U.S. troops in Anbar, a stronghold of the Sunni Arab-led insurgency, said last week that al Qaeda accounted for 75 percent of militants in and around Falluja.
Labels: Allawi al-Isawi, Fallujah, suicide car bomber
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
(McClatchy Newspapers) - Roundup of violence in Iraq - 14 May 2007
The daily Iraq violence report is compiled by McClatchy Newspapers Special Correspondent Laith Hammoudi 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 Special Correspondent Laith Hammoudi 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 Tuesday:
* denotes new or updated item.
* BAGHDAD - Five people were killed and 15 wounded when two roadside bombs exploded in quick succession near al-Tayaran square in central Baghdad, police said.
* BAGHDAD - Iraqi soldiers killed 16 insurgents and arrested 109 others during the past 24 hours in different parts of Iraq, the Defence Ministry said.
BAGHDAD - U.S. forces detained 10 suspected insurgents during raids targeting the Ansar al-Sunna group and al-Qaeda in Iraq networks in Mosul, Falluja and Taji, the U.S. military said.
NEAR TIKRIT - A policeman and a civilian were killed and a woman was wounded when gunmen attacked a police checkpoint near Tikrit, 175 km (110 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
NEAR ISHAQI - Gunmen kidnapped three civilians on Monday night at a fake checkpoint near the town of Ishaqi, 100 km (60 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
HAWIJA - One person was killed and two wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near a police patrol in Hawija, 70 km (40 miles) southwest of Baghdad, police said.
MOSUL - Four Iraqi soldiers were wounded in an attack by a suicide car bomber on their checkpoint near Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, an Iraqi army spokesman said.
ISKANDARIYA - An Iraqi soldier was killed and four others, including two civilians, were wounded when gunmen attacked an Iraqi army checkpoint on Monday night in Iskandariya, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
ANBAR - A U.S. Marine was killed in combat on Monday in western Anbar province, the U.S. military said.
* denotes new or updated item.
* BAGHDAD - Five people were killed and 15 wounded when two roadside bombs exploded in quick succession near al-Tayaran square in central Baghdad, police said.
* BAGHDAD - Iraqi soldiers killed 16 insurgents and arrested 109 others during the past 24 hours in different parts of Iraq, the Defence Ministry said.
BAGHDAD - U.S. forces detained 10 suspected insurgents during raids targeting the Ansar al-Sunna group and al-Qaeda in Iraq networks in Mosul, Falluja and Taji, the U.S. military said.
NEAR TIKRIT - A policeman and a civilian were killed and a woman was wounded when gunmen attacked a police checkpoint near Tikrit, 175 km (110 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
NEAR ISHAQI - Gunmen kidnapped three civilians on Monday night at a fake checkpoint near the town of Ishaqi, 100 km (60 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
HAWIJA - One person was killed and two wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near a police patrol in Hawija, 70 km (40 miles) southwest of Baghdad, police said.
MOSUL - Four Iraqi soldiers were wounded in an attack by a suicide car bomber on their checkpoint near Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, an Iraqi army spokesman said.
ISKANDARIYA - An Iraqi soldier was killed and four others, including two civilians, were wounded when gunmen attacked an Iraqi army checkpoint on Monday night in Iskandariya, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
ANBAR - A U.S. Marine was killed in combat on Monday in western Anbar province, the U.S. military said.
Labels: Al Anbar, al-Tayaran square, Hawija, Iskandariyah, Mosul, roadside bombs, suicide car bomber
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
Roundup of violence in Iraq - 7 May 2007
(McClatchy Newspapers) - The daily Iraq violence report is compiled by McClatchy Newspapers Special Correspondent Laith Hammoudi 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 Special Correspondent Laith Hammoudi 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.
May 8 (Reuters) - Following are key security developments in Iraq at 1200 GMT on Monday:
* denotes new or updated item.
KUFA - At least 16 people were killed and 70 wounded when a suicide car bomb exploded at a crowded market in the Shi'ite city of Kufa, 160 km (100 miles) south of Baghdad, health and government officials in the province of Najaf said.
* FALLUJA - The bodies of seven people were found shot in and around Falluja, 50 km (35 miles) west of Baghdad, police said.
* NEAR KHANAQIN - A suicide bomber killed two policemen and wounded 23, including 10 civilians, when he targeted a police station in the town of Khanaqin, north of Baghdad, police said.
* BAGHDAD - The bodies of three personal guards of Iraq's minister of Higher Education were found shot dead in Baghdad, an official in the ministry said.
BAGHDAD - Police said they recovered 30 bodies in Baghdad, including 17 in the religiously mixed southern neighbourhood of Amil in the past 24 hours.
BAGHDAD - At least four people were killed and eight wounded by mortar rounds in different districts of Baghdad on Monday, police said.
BAGHDAD - The Iraqi army killed seven insurgents and arrested 115 others during the last 24 hours in different parts of Iraq, the Defence Ministry said.
BAGHDAD - U.S. forces detained 13 suspected insurgents during raids across Iraq targeting al Qaeda, foreign fighters and a chemical car bomb network on Monday and Tuesday, the U.S. military said.
ISKANDARIYA - Gunmen killed two people and wounded three others on Monday in Iskandariya, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
ISKANDARIYA - Two people were killed and 10 wounded by a mortar round attack in Iskandariya on Tuesday, police said.
* denotes new or updated item.
KUFA - At least 16 people were killed and 70 wounded when a suicide car bomb exploded at a crowded market in the Shi'ite city of Kufa, 160 km (100 miles) south of Baghdad, health and government officials in the province of Najaf said.
* FALLUJA - The bodies of seven people were found shot in and around Falluja, 50 km (35 miles) west of Baghdad, police said.
* NEAR KHANAQIN - A suicide bomber killed two policemen and wounded 23, including 10 civilians, when he targeted a police station in the town of Khanaqin, north of Baghdad, police said.
* BAGHDAD - The bodies of three personal guards of Iraq's minister of Higher Education were found shot dead in Baghdad, an official in the ministry said.
BAGHDAD - Police said they recovered 30 bodies in Baghdad, including 17 in the religiously mixed southern neighbourhood of Amil in the past 24 hours.
BAGHDAD - At least four people were killed and eight wounded by mortar rounds in different districts of Baghdad on Monday, police said.
BAGHDAD - The Iraqi army killed seven insurgents and arrested 115 others during the last 24 hours in different parts of Iraq, the Defence Ministry said.
BAGHDAD - U.S. forces detained 13 suspected insurgents during raids across Iraq targeting al Qaeda, foreign fighters and a chemical car bomb network on Monday and Tuesday, the U.S. military said.
ISKANDARIYA - Gunmen killed two people and wounded three others on Monday in Iskandariya, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
ISKANDARIYA - Two people were killed and 10 wounded by a mortar round attack in Iskandariya on Tuesday, police said.
Labels: Baghdad, Fallujah, Iskandariyah, Khanaquin, Kufa, suicide car bomber
Vehicle ban in Kufa and Najaf after suicide bomber kills 16
Security
(AP) - A suicide car bomber tore through a busy market in the Shiite holy city of Kufa on Tuesday morning, killing at least 16 people and wounding 70 in an attack sure to further enflame tensions between Iraq's Sunni and Shiite populations. In response, local authorities closed the entrances to Kufa and its sister holy city of Najaf and imposed a vehicle ban around the revered shrines and mosques in the two towns, said Ahmed Duaible, a local government spokesman.
The 550-pound car bomb at Kufa exploded about 10 a.m. in an area that also included a school and the mayor's office, police said. The 16 killed included women and children, said Salim Naima, spokesman of the Najaf health department. Panicked people ran through the corridors searching for their relatives at the Furat al-Awsat hospital in nearby Najaf. Women in black abayas, traditional Islamic cloaks, pounded their chests and faces in grief.
The revered Kufa mosque was about 400 yards from the blast. Millions of Shiite Muslim pilgrims visit the shrines at Kufa and Najaf, home to top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani as well as radical anti-U.S. Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. The predominantly Shiite southern areas have seen a spike in violence and unrest, blamed in part on militants who have fled a security crackdown in Baghdad.
The 550-pound car bomb at Kufa exploded about 10 a.m. in an area that also included a school and the mayor's office, police said. The 16 killed included women and children, said Salim Naima, spokesman of the Najaf health department. Panicked people ran through the corridors searching for their relatives at the Furat al-Awsat hospital in nearby Najaf. Women in black abayas, traditional Islamic cloaks, pounded their chests and faces in grief.
The revered Kufa mosque was about 400 yards from the blast. Millions of Shiite Muslim pilgrims visit the shrines at Kufa and Najaf, home to top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani as well as radical anti-U.S. Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. The predominantly Shiite southern areas have seen a spike in violence and unrest, blamed in part on militants who have fled a security crackdown in Baghdad.
Labels: Kufa, Najaf, suicide car bomber, vehicle ban
Monday, May 07, 2007
Suicide bombers in Ramadi kill 20
Security
(Reuters) - Two suicide car bombers killed 20 people and wounded more than 40 in separate attacks near Iraq's city of Ramadi on Monday, police said. The first car bomb went off in a busy market in a town called Albu-Thiyab, east of Ramadi, said Tareq al-Thiyab, a police colonel and a government security adviser in western Anbar province.
The second car bomb targeted a police checkpoint in a town called al-Jazeera, he said. Sunni Islamist al Qaeda is engaged in a fierce power struggle with local Sunni Arab tribesmen in Anbar province, who oppose the group's campaign of indiscriminate attacks and its efforts to impose a harsh interpretation of Islam. Recent big suicide attacks in Anbar, an overwhelmingly Sunni province west of Baghdad, have been blamed on al Qaeda.
The second car bomb targeted a police checkpoint in a town called al-Jazeera, he said. Sunni Islamist al Qaeda is engaged in a fierce power struggle with local Sunni Arab tribesmen in Anbar province, who oppose the group's campaign of indiscriminate attacks and its efforts to impose a harsh interpretation of Islam. Recent big suicide attacks in Anbar, an overwhelmingly Sunni province west of Baghdad, have been blamed on al Qaeda.
COMMENT: This will only strengthen the tribes' resolve and will lead to retaliation attacks againts Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). The more AQI targets the Anbar Salvation Council, the more likely it is that the tribal coalition will grow in strength and support. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: Al Qaeda in Iraq, al-Jazeera, Albu-Thiyab, Anbar Salvation Council, Ramadi, suicide car bomber, Tareq al-Thiyab
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Suicide car bomber strikes U.S. troops in one of deadliest attacks since 2003
Security
UPDATE: An insurgent group that includes al-Qaeda in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack, according to a Web statement Tuesday. The Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella group of Sunni militants that includes al-Qaeda in Iraq, said in the posting that it was behind Monday's attack on a U.S. patrol base in Diyala province.
(AP) - In one of the deadliest attacks on American ground forces since the Iraq war started more than four years ago, a suicide car bomber struck a patrol base northeast of Baghdad and killed nine U.S. soldiers and wounded 20, officials said. An Iraqi civilian also was wounded in the attack on Task Force Lightning soldiers in Diyala province, a volatile area that has been the site of fierce fighting involving U.S. and Iraqi troops, Sunni insurgents and Shiite militias.
At least 48 Iraqis were killed in seven other bombings, violence that has persisted despite a nearly 10-week-old U.S.-Iraqi security crackdown aimed at pacifying Baghdad. Of the 20 wounded in the attack on the patrol base, 15 soldiers were treated and returned to duty while five others and the Iraqi were evacuated to a medical facility for further care, the military said.
It was the second bold attack against a U.S. base north of Baghdad in just over two months and was notable for its use of a suicide car bomber. Militants have mostly used hit-and-run ambushes, roadside bombs or mortars on U.S. troops and stayed away from direct assaults on fortified military compounds to avoid U.S. firepower.
At least 48 Iraqis were killed in seven other bombings, violence that has persisted despite a nearly 10-week-old U.S.-Iraqi security crackdown aimed at pacifying Baghdad. Of the 20 wounded in the attack on the patrol base, 15 soldiers were treated and returned to duty while five others and the Iraqi were evacuated to a medical facility for further care, the military said.
It was the second bold attack against a U.S. base north of Baghdad in just over two months and was notable for its use of a suicide car bomber. Militants have mostly used hit-and-run ambushes, roadside bombs or mortars on U.S. troops and stayed away from direct assaults on fortified military compounds to avoid U.S. firepower.
Labels: Diyala, Islamic State of Iraq, Lightning, patrol base, suicide car bomber, Task Force, U.S. forces
