63 Iraqis Killed, 75 Injured in Al-Hurriyah District Explosion, According to June 18, 2008 News Reports

Editor's Note:

Only God knows how many Iraqis are killed everyday. The following represents part of the reporting but readers are advised that the actual number of deaths should very much exceed what's reported.

Concerning deaths of US soldiers, only those US citizens who die in Iraq are included in the statistics. There are no published statistics about US soldiers who die of their injuries after that. There are no published statistics about the deaths or injuries of the private army soldiers (security contractors), or about those without US citizenship.

It is noteworthy that May 20, 2008 news reports showed that death squads which execute Iraqis on daily basis are no longer hiding themselves. Previously, Sunni leaders pointed to Mahdi Army and Badr militiamen as the perpetrators. Now, death squads are composed of the US-recruited Sahwa fighters and policemen (which is an opportunity for US forces command to sever relations with these fighters).

Despite the fact that there are scores of organizations involved in the Iraq war, the Iraqi government officials prefer to refer to them as Alqaeda gunmen for propaganda purposes, as mentioned in the June 4, 2008 news report. For accuracy purposes, the term "Alqaeda gunmen" may be replaced with "Iraqi fighters."

The Iraq News Agncy (INA) reported that the death toll from Al-Hurriyah district explosion rose to 63 in addition to 75 injuries, including five women and four children.

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Policeman killed, 2 wounded in violent acts until Wednesday afternoon

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Wednesday , 18 /06 /2008 Time 11:11:38
Baghdad, Jun 18, (VOI)-

A policeman was killed and two more were injured, while 25 detainees were freed in acts of violence that took place in Iraq until Wednesday afternoon, security sources said.

In Kirkuk, a security source said a roadside bomb went off targeting a police vehicle patrol near a fuel station in al-Waseti neighborhood in southwestern Kirkuk, killing a policeman and injuring two others.
In Diala, General Ghanem al-Qureshi said that the Diala police on Wednesday morning freed 25 detainees from the Bucca detention center in Basra and the Karkoush jail in Baladruz after they were proved not guilty of involvement in any crime.

SH

Policeman killed, 2 injured by bomb blast in Kirkuk

Kirkuk - Voices of Iraq
Wednesday , 18 /06 /2008 Time 11:11:38
Kirkuk, Jun 18, (VOI)-

A policeman was killed and two more were wounded on Wednesday in a roadside bomb explosion in southwestern Kirkuk, said a police source.

"A roadside bomb went off targeting a police vehicle patrol near a fuel station in al-Waseti neighborhood in southwestern Kirkuk, killing a policeman and injuring two others," the source, who asked for anonymity, told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq (VOI).
"The explosion caused also a material damage to one of the patrol's vehicles," he added.
Kirkuk is 250 km northeast of Baghdad.

SH

Toll from Baghdad car bombing rises to 129 casualties

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Wednesday , 18 /06 /2008 Time 11:11:38
Baghdad, Jun 17, (VOI) -

The casualty toll from the western Baghdad car bombing on Tuesday rose to 129, a military spokesman said.

“The toll from the car bomb that struck al-Hurriya district, north Baghdad, on Tuesday rose to 42 killed and 87 wounded,” Brig. Gen. Wassem Atta, spokesman for Baghdad's security plan, told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).

The spokesman noted “most of the casualties are civilians including women and children,” but he did not elaborate on further details..
Atta in an earlier statement said “six civilians were killed and 37 were wounded, including women and children in the bombing that took place in northern Baghdad."

Earlier, a police source said a car bomb went off on Tuesday in northern Baghdad, leaving an unspecified number of casualties, including women and children.
"Security forces sealed off the area and prevented vehicles and pedestrians from entering, while ambulances rushed the wounded to nearby hospitals for treatment," he added.

AM/SR

Scores of workers feared kidnapped in Wassit

Wassit - Voices of Iraq
Wednesday , 18 /06 /2008 Time 11:11:38
Wassit, Jun 18, (VOI) -

A score of workers went missing in a volatile area in Wassit which has witnessed a number of kidnapping operations, a police source said.

“A number of residents informed police they lost contact with their sons while they were heading to their work at the border crossing of Zurbatiya, 90 km east of Kut,” Col. Kadhim al-Musawi, police chief for al-Dubuni district, told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).

The police chief pointed out “people explained in their statement they lost communications with their sons and the crossing's officers told them their sons had not come to their job place in Zurbatiya.”
The police official added “workers took the Dubuni-Jassan road en route to their destination in Zurbatiya.”

Meanwhile, the police chief of Dubuni district, 55 km north-east of Kut, said “primary information indicated workers drove in six Kia micro-busses and were waylaid by suspected al-Qaeda gunmen on Jassan-Dubuni road, taking them to an unknown area.”
“15 workers are Dubuni residents,” but he conceded “he could not give an exact number of kidnapped workers.”

“We are unsure of the total number of workers since they are from different districts,” he highlighted.

The police officer added “Police set up checkpoints on Dubuni-Jassan road to investigate the whereabouts of the kidnapped workers.”

The same road saw violent actions when unknown gunmen set ablaze three trucks carrying Iranian-made goods and kidnapped their drivers. Following the kidnapping, a roadside bomb went off, in Aziziya district.

The road is flanked by an open area stretching to Qazaniya district, Diala province, where al-Qaeda gunmen are active.
Kut, the capital city of Wassit, lies 180 km south of Baghdad
AM/SR

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www.albasrah.net

Iraq War Report for events of Tuesday, 17 June 2008.

Translated and/or compiled by Muhammad Abu Nasr,

member, editorial board, the Free Arab Voice.

Tuesday, 17 June 2008.

·        Deadly car bomb targets Shi‘i civilians in northern Baghdad Tuesday afternoon.

·        US announces death of American soldier in al-Hillah.

·        US troops raid home in al-Mawsil, killing four, capturing four more family members.

Baghdad.

Deadly car bomb targets Shi‘i civilians Tuesday afternoon.

In a dispatch posted at 9:30pm Baghdad time Tuesday night, the Yaqen News Agency reported that a car bomb exploded at a taxi car park in the al-Hurriyah district of northern Baghdad on Tuesday afternoon, in the deadliest car bomb attack for months.

Yaqen reported medical sources in al-Hurriyah as saying that 42 people had been killed and more than 87 wounded in the massive bomb attack that targeted civilians in the largely Shi‘i district.

In a dispatch posted at 10:50pm Baghdad time Tuesday night, the Association of Muslim Scholars of Iraq (AMSI) reported Qasim ‘Ata, a spokesman for Baghdad’s security forces, as saying that the explosion took place in a popular market in al-Hurriyah.

Al-Qa‘idah motorcycle bomber attacks checkpoint manned by “Awakening” tribal police in Baghdad, killing four.

In a dispatch posted on its Arabic website at 4:07pm Tuesday afternoon Beijing time (12:07pm in Baghdad), the Xinhua News Agency reported that four members of the tribal “Awakening” police were killed when an attacker drove an explosives-packed motorcycle into a checkpoint in the as-Salikh area of northern Baghdad on Tuesday morning.

Xinhua reported a source in the police as saying that a man on a booby-trapped motorcycle attacked a checkpoint manned by “Awakening” tribal police near the local police station and blew himself up. The blast killed four of the tribal policemen and wounded two civilians who happened to be at the checkpoint at the time.

After the attack, Iraqi government security forces rushed to the scene and closed it off. Xinhua noted that the al-Qa‘idah organization regularly targets the “Awakening” policemen in Iraq in revenge for the role played by the “Awakening” in driving al-Qa‘idah out of Iraq’s vast tribal areas.

Diyala Province.
Ba‘qubah.

Car bomb explodes near Ba‘qubah police headquarters killing one person Tuesday.

In a dispatch posted at 2:40pm Baghdad time Tuesday afternoon, the Yaqen News Agency reported that a car bomb exploded near the police command offices in Ba‘qubah, 65km northeast of Baghdad, on Tuesday.

Yaqen reported a source in the provincial government police as saying that an explosives-packed car blew up opposite the police headquarters in the center of Ba‘qubah, killing one person and wounding 21 more. Eleven of the wounded were police personnel.

Balad Ruz.

Suspected al-Qa‘idah gunmen kill medical doctor, kidnap wife east of Ba‘qubah.

In a dispatch posted at 12:02pm Baghdad time midday Tuesday, the Association of Muslim Scholars of Iraq (AMSI) reported that gunmen shot and killed a medical doctor and kidnapped his wife near Balad Ruz, which is 65km northeast of Baghdad.

The AMSI reported a media source as saying that gunmen in a car opened fire on Dr. Barakat Kazim and his wife Shayma’ Rahman who were in their own car near the Bazal Salwah area, 12km east of Balad Ruz.

Dr. Kazim was killed on the spot. After the car stopped by the side of the road, the gunmen then abducted Shayma’ Rahman, who had survived the shooting, and took her to an unknown destination.

AMSI reported that al-Qa‘idah is believed responsible for the large number of kidnappings that take place in the Bazal Salwah area located between Ba‘qubah and Balad Ruz, despite the many checkpoints set up in the region by the US-backed regime.

Babil Province.
Al-Hillah.

US admits death of American soldier in bomb attack in al-Hillah Monday.

In a dispatch posted on its Arabic website at 3:11pm Tuesday afternoon Beijing time (11:11am in Baghdad), the Xinhua News Agency reported that the US military had announced that a bomb exploded by a US military vehicle in the city of al-Hillah, 100km south of Baghdad, killing an American soldier.

Xinhua reported a US communiqué as saying that the attack took place on Monday, but offering no further details.

Ninwa Province.
Al-Mawsil.

Gunmen kill off-duty policeman in al-Mawsil midday Tuesday.

In a dispatch posted at 5:30pm Baghdad time Tuesday afternoon, the Yaqen News Agency reported that gunmen assassinated a policeman near his home in the Bab at-Tub area of central al-Mawsil midday Tuesday.

Yaqen reported a source in the Ninwa Province police as saying that the policeman was on vacation at the time of the killing and that he died on the spot.

TV news broadcaster assassinated in al-Mawsil.

In a dispatch posted at 11:50am Baghdad time Tuesday morning, the Yaqen News Agency reported that a news broadcaster for the government-run al-‘Iraqiyah TV station was killed near his home in al-Mawsil, 420km northwest of Baghdad, on Tuesday.

Yaqen reported a source in the government police as saying that gunmen assassinated Muhyi ad-Din an-Naqib, a broadcaster with the al-‘Iraqiyah Ninwa station on Tuesday morning. The attack took place in the az-Zira‘i neighborhood of northern al-Mawsil just after an-Naqib had left his home there on his way to work.

Al-Mawsil, the scene of a US and Iraqi regime offensive against al-Qa‘idah since 10 May, witnessed the assassination of a college professor and a lawyer on Sunday, 15 June.

US troops raid home in al-Mawsil, killing four, capturing four.

In a dispatch posted on its Arabic website at 3:37pm Tuesday afternoon Beijing time (11:37am in Baghdad), the Xinhua News Agency reported that US troops killed four people and arrested four more, all members of one family, in the southwest of al-Mawsil, 420km northwest of Baghdad, at dawn on Tuesday.

Xinhua reported a source in the city police as saying that US troops raided the home of a resident of the al-Mahattah area to the southwest of al-Mawsil, where they killed the father of the family and three of his sons.

In a dispatch posted at 6:17pm Beijing time (2:17pm in Baghdad), Xinhua reported that the US military had announced that its troops had killed four gunmen and arrested 10 suspects in operations against al-Qa‘idah in al-Mawsil.

Xinhua reported a US communiqué as saying that the Americans conducted a raid on an al-Qa‘idah bomb-making center in a house in al-Mawsil. The communiqué said that the US troops ordered the people in the targeted building to surrender. A number of individuals then emerged peacefully from the building, but four “terrorists” refused to comply with the US orders, the American communiqué stated. The Americans, the communiqué said, perceived that the four who remained in the building had hostile intentions and therefore attacked the building, killing the four men.

The US communiqué said that the American forces had also captured a middle-level al-Qa‘idah commander believed to have supervised attacks and facilitated the movement of non-Iraqi al-Qa‘idah inside the country.

Wasit Province.
Al-‘Aziziyah.

Bomb kills chief of police in al-‘Aziziyah.

In a dispatch posted at 7pm Baghdad time Tuesday afternoon, the Yaqen News Agency reported that a bomb had exploded by the motorcade of the chief of police for the al-‘Aziziyah district, 55km southeast of Baghdad.

Yaqen reported a source in the al-‘Aziziyah police as saying that the bomb went off by the motorcade of Colonel Salih Mahdi, Director of the al-‘Aziziyah police. Mahdi was killed along with his aide First Lieutenant Muhammad Wali Maryush. Ten other police personnel accompanying the colonel were wounded in the blast.

Colonel Mahdi was on his way to investigate an attack northeast of al-Kut earlier in the day in which three trucks hauling goods imported from Iran were burned and their drivers kidnapped.

Al-Kut.

Gunmen attack, kidnap truckers hauling goods imported from Iran.

In a dispatch posted at 6:20pm Baghdad time Tuesday afternoon, the Yaqen News Agency reported that gunmen attacked truckers hauling goods imported from Iran in the area northeast of al-Kut (which is 180km southeast of Baghdad).

Yaqen reported a source in the Wasit Province police as saying that gunmen intercepted three trucks that were hauling goods imported from Iran on the road between Jassan and Dabbuni to the northeast of al-Kut. The gunmen set fire to the trucks and kidnapped the drivers, taking them away to an unknown destination.

The source said that government troops surrounded the area where the attack took place and imposed a curfew there as they began a search for the abducted men.

Al-Basrah Province.
Al-Basrah.

Iraqi government police capture three militia commanders in al-Basrah Tuesday evening.

In a dispatch posted on its Arabic website at 5:41pm Tuesday afternoon Beijing time (1:41pm in Baghdad), the Xinhua News Agency reported that the Iraqi government police in the southern city of al-Basrah had arrested three commanders of an anti-occupation militia in raids on Monday night.

Xinhua reported a source in the police command, who asked to remain anonymous, as saying that the police, in the course of their raids, also arrested two drug dealers and freed a kidnap victim as well.

The source told Xinhua that the police captured three commanders of the militia in a stronghold in northern al-Basrah on Monday night. The source did not indicate to what militia the three commanders belonged, but since March US forces and their Iraqi regime allies have been waging an offensive against the anti-occupation Jaysh al-Mahdi militia in al-Basrah and other areas of Iraq. The drive is regarded as preparation for an eventual US attack on Iran.

The source asserted that the police also seized four recently manufactured rockets in that same part of al-Basrah, but did not say whether they were in the possession of the militiamen or not.

Then on Monday morning, the source said, the police arrested two wanted drug dealers in the center of al-Basrah, and freed a kidnap victim from a town 50 km north of the city. The man had been abducted in a carjacking. The kidnappers, however, escaped.

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