US Soldier, 13 Iraqis Killed, 2 Bodies Found, According to August 1, 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."

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Yaqen.net reported the following news:

- The US military base in Balad was rocketed by Majd fighters.

- One US-recruited Sahwa fighter was killed, another was injured in an attack in Ba'aqouba.

- Three members of the official Iraqi delegation accompanying the US-backed prime minister, Al-Maliki, disappeared in Berlin, during the Maliki's official visit. The three requested political asylum in Germany and all Maliki's attempts to persuade them to return with him failed.

- US forces arrested and detained an Iraqi journalist in the Green Zone in Baghdad. Ali Al-Mash-hadani works as a photographer for Reuters and the BBC, and a correspondent for NPR. Reuters demanded the release of the journalist or at least for the US forces to charge him.

- Bodies of three slain women were found in Mosul.

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News Summary

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Friday , 01 /08 /2008 Time 10:18:08
BAGHDAD, Aug 1 (VOI) –

Following is a summary of news reports posted until 10:00 p.m. Baghdad local time Friday:

* Politics & Security:

BASRA, An official from cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s office said his group loyalists resumed holding Friday prayer ceremonies in central Basra after three months ban imposed following a major crackdown in the southern city.

BAGHDAD, Thousands of Sadrists on Friday staged a demonstration in Baghdad condemning the long-term security agreement to be signed by Iraq and the U.S., said a source from al-Sadr’s office in Baghdad.

BAGHDAD, US army on Friday announced its troops arrested 4 wanted and 17 suspects during operation targeting al-Qaeda network in Baghdad and Mosul.

WASSIT, Police forces on Friday arrested a kidnapping and plundering gang on a main road leading to a border town in Wassit, the police chief said.

BAGHDAD, The Iraqi government on Friday called on all parties in Kirkuk to resort to calm and wisdom, and to rely on the law and the constitution.

KIRKUK, The chief of the Kirkuk police survived an attempt on his life on Friday when an improvised explosive device went off targeting his motorcade in the southwestern part of the city, a security source said.

MISSAN, The commander of the 10th division of the Iraqi army said on Friday that (Iraqi fighters resisting US forces and US-backed Iraqi forces) will not return to Missan, hailing the role played by the Missan tribes in supporting the government's security forces during the wide-scale security campaign in the province.

BAGHDAD, A civilian was killed and two more were wounded in (War attacks) that took place in Iraq from 2:00pm until 9:00pm on Friday, raising the death toll to 11 dead and eight wounded in the past 24 hours in Iraq, security sources said.

News Summary

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Friday , 01 /08 /2008 Time 10:18:08
BAGHDAD, Aug 1 (VOI) –

Following is a summary of news reports posted until 4:00 p.m. Baghdad local time Friday:

* Politics & Security:

BAGHDAD, Shi'i leader Muqtada al-Sadr called on the Iraqi government to avoid signing a long-term security agreement with the United States, pledging "political and popular opposition support" if the government does not sign the deal.

BAGHDAD, One U.S. soldier was killed and two others wounded in a non-combat incident in the northern Iraq province of Ninewa, upping to 13 U.S. deaths in July, the least number of fatalities in one month since 2003, according to a U.S. army statement.

KIRKUK, Three (Iraqi) soldiers were killed and another wounded when an improvised explosive device went off near their patrol southwest of Kirkuk, an Iraqi army source said on Friday.

KIRKUK, Policemen in Kirkuk found two decomposed bodies of a man and his wife in the western part of the oil-rich city on Friday, a police source said.

KARBALA, The Karbala Security Operations Command set fresh security controls in preparations for the al-Ziyara al-Shaabaniya pilgrimage in a bid to avoid a repeat of last year's clashes, according to the command's media spokesman on Friday.

ARBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan Region's Prime Minister Nejervan Barazani is paying an official visit to the Iranian capital Tehran next week to discuss a host of political issues of mutual interest, a Kurdish government official said on Friday.

SALAH AL-DIN, Iraqi army forces killed four gunmen, two of them were suicide bombers, and captured six others in a large-scale security raid east of the district of al-Dalouiya on Friday, an army source said.

BAGHDAD, One civilian man was killed and two others wounded on Friday when a sticky improvised explosive device (IED) went off in their vehicle in southern Baghdad, according to Iraqi police.

DIALA, Three wanted men were detained on Friday and amounts of explosives were seized in separate areas in Ba'aqouba under the wide-scale security operation in Diala province, the official spokesman for the defense ministry said.

================================

Iraq War Report for events of Thursday, 31 July 2008.

Translated and/or compiled by Muhammad Abu Nasr,

member, editorial board, the Free Arab Voice.

Thursday, 31 July 2008.

·       “Who will bring back my mother?” - US troops kill elderly peasant woman, two sons in raid on village near Tikrit Wednesday morning.

·       High-ranking police officer among 100 arrested on third day of US-backed offensive against al-Qa‘idah in Diyala Province Thursday.

·       Bomb kills “Awakening” tribal policemen amidst increase in activity by gunmen in remote area south of Buhriz.

·       Six civilians, three Iraqi army troops wounded in double car bombing in al-Mawsil Thursday afternoon.

·       Car bomber kills three Iraqi policemen in al-Qayyarah Thursday morning.

Al-Anbar Province.
Al-Baghdadi.

Bomb explodes by US minesweeper near al-Baghdadi early Thursday morning.

In a dispatch posted at 12:55pm Baghdad time Thursday afternoon, the Yaqen News Agency reported that a bomb had exploded by a US minesweeper vehicle on the road to the al-Baghdadi train station, about 200km northwest of Baghdad, at dawn Thursday.

Yaqen reported witnesses as declaring that the blast destroyed the vehicle, scattering parts of it around and killing the crew aboard it. The witnesses did not, however, know how many people had been inside.

US troops quickly closed off the area and shut down the road as they began a search for the attackers and brought in helicopters to evacuate the casualties to the ‘Ayn al-Asad Airbase, a large US base in the vicinity of al-Baghdadi. The remains of the minesweeper were still visible by the side of the road as of the time of reporting.

Later on Thursday morning, the Sunni-sectarian Ansar al-Islam organization – a group affiliated with al-Qa‘idah in Iraq – circulated leaflets in the area claiming credit for the attack and threatening to carry out more.

Baghdad.

Bomb wounds two in Baghdad Thursday afternoon.

In a dispatch posted at 6:25pm Baghdad time Thursday afternoon, the Yaqen News Agency reported that a bomb exploded in Baghdad’s al-Karradah district on Thursday afternoon.

Yaqen reported a source in the government police as saying that the blast, on 62 Street, wounded two people and damaged shops in the area.

The source did not say whether the bomb had been targeted on any US or Iraqi security forces or on any of the political party offices in the area.

Salah ad-Din Province.
Tikrit.

US troops kill elderly woman, two sons in raid on village home near Tikrit early Wednesday morning.

In a dispatch posted on its Arabic website at 7:38am Thursday morning Beijing time (2:38am in Baghdad), the Xinhua News Agency reported that three people, one of them a woman, were killed and several more wounded when US troops carried out raids and searches near the city of Tikrit, 180km north of Baghdad on Wednesday.

Xinhua reported a source in the Salah ad-Din Province police as saying that the Americans began their raids in the Tigris area, 15km southwest of Tikrit, at dawn Wednesday. They withdrew from the area at midday, having killed two men and one woman.

The source said that Iraqi police took the bodies to Tikrit General Hospital. A number of other local people were wounded in the American raids, some of them were then taken into custody by the US forces and transported to American bases.

The source did not disclose the reasons or circumstances in which the casualties occurred, saying only that the area is a sparsely populated agricultural region. The source added that the Americans did not indicate how the casualties had occurred.

A resident told Xinhua, however, that the Americans raided one home in the area belonging to Jasim ‘Abdallah al-‘Isawi and that the casualties were al-‘Isawi’s wife and two of his sons. Another person from the neighboring family was taken into custody.

In a dispatch posted at 10:55am Baghdad time Thursday morning, the Yaqen News Agency identified Jasim al-‘Isawi’s wife as Subhiyah Hasan Husayn, aged 77, and added that two of the elderly couple’s young sons, Muhammad Jasim and ‘Ali Jasim, who were also killed, worked as farmers on their land in the area.

Yaqen reported that three other children of Jasim al-‘Isawi and his wife were wounded in the American raid, one of them a young woman.

Yaqen quoted one of Jasim al-‘Isawi’s sons – a brother of one of the victims – as saying: “I was asleep on the roof because of the electricity cut-off. They didn’t see me sleeping there but woke me up after awhile and stripped off my clothes and beat me on the ground. The solders beat me on my chest and body. It was a big force that raided our house. For a moment I thought that we were wanted persons or accused of something. We demand an immediate investigation by the American army. We own a farm and are peasants. Why did they attack my elderly mother? Why did they kill her? Who will bring back my mother?”

Tikrit General Hospital received the bodies of the victims with gunshot wounds to the head, chest, and various other parts of the body, according to Major Hakim Muhammad of the hospital guard.

Yaqen reported that more than 2,000 relatives and friends accompanied the bodies of the victims to the cemetery in the Tigris area after the bodies had been released by the hosptial.

In a telephone conversation with the Yaqen correspondent, Colonel Ra’yan, Commander of Tikrit, expressed his sorrow over the civilian casualties and said: “we will open an investigation into the matter to confirm it and determine where fault lies.”

The governor of Salah ad-Din Province denounced the American attack, saying: “Within less than a week, the American forces have committed two massacres. In the first, they killed my son, and in the second they killed innocent civilians.” The governor declared that “the massacres by the American occupation forces must stop.”

Samarra’.

Bomb kills three “Awakening” tribal policemen in Samarra’ Wednesday evening.

In a dispatch posted at 11:10am Baghdad time Thursday morning, the Yaqen News Agency reported that a bomb exploded by members of the tribal “Awakening” police in Samarra’, 120km north of Baghdad on Wednesday evening.

Yaqen reported Captain Muhammad Yunus of the Samarra’ police as saying that the blast killed three of the “Awakening” policemen and wounded two more of them. Yunis said that the bomb was a homemade device that had been planted next to a road in the al-Ma‘mal neighborhood.

Diyala Province.
Ba‘qubah.

High-ranking police officer among 100 arrested on third day of US-backed offensive against al-Qa‘idah in Diyala Province Thursday.

In a dispatch posted at 12:25pm Baghdad time Thursday afternoon, the Yaqen News Agency reported that more than 100 people had been arrested including high-ranking police officers on the third day of the US-backed Iraqi regime offensive against the Sunni sectarian al-Qa‘idah organization in various parts of Ba‘qubah, 65km northwest of Baghdad, on Thursday.

Yaqen reported ‘Abd al-Karim Khalaf, spokesman for the Iraqi Interior Ministry, a ssyaing that security forces had arrested over 100 persons, including a high-ranking officer in the police, in the course of raids and searches in various parts of Ba‘qubah.

Buhriz.

Bomb kills “Awakening” tribal policemen amidst increase in activity by gunmen in remote area south of Buhriz.

In a dispatch posted at 11:05pm Baghdad time Thursday night, the Yaqen News Agency reported that a bomb exploded in the Dhuwayb area south of Buhriz, about 60km northeast of Baghdad. The blast killed one “Awakening” tribal policeman and wounded a second.

Yaqen reported a source in the Iraqi regime security forces, who asked not to be identified, as saying that the attackers were equipped with light and medium weapons and that the attack sparked a firefight between the gunmen and the tribal “Awakening” police who manned the station. The “Awakening” police then called in support from Iraqi military units stationed nearby, and their intervention forced the attackers to turn and flee to the remote desert areas to the east of adh-Dhuwayb.

Yaqen noted that the desert in the area of adh-Dhuwayb was regarded as a hideout for armed groups until an offensive by Iraqi and US forces about six months ago cleared them out. Since that time, the gunmen have returned to the area from which they launch attacks targeting the tribal “Awakening” forces – a tactic associated largely with the fundamentalist al-Qa‘idah organization.

Sources reported that in the last three months, the “Awakening” in the areas to the south of Buhriz have lost about 12 men killed and 33 wounded in addition to five men abducted and never found.

Ninwa Province.
Al-Mawsil.

Six civilians, three Iraqi army troops wounded in double car bombing in al-Mawsil Thursday afternoon.

In a dispatch posted at 7:35pm Baghdad time Thursday evening, the Yaqen News Agency reported that two car bombs exploded simultaneously in eastern al-Mawsil on Thursday afternoon.

Yaqen reported a source in the provincial police as saying that the blasts occurred in the Kawkajli district, wounding six civilians and three Iraqi regime troops. The source gave no indication as to whether there had been any military target in the attacks.

Since 10 May, the US and its Iraqi regime allies have been waging an offensive against the al-Qa‘idah organization, known for its suicide attacks, in al-Mawsil and surrounding Ninwa Province.

Bodies of three murdered women found dumped in al-Mawsil.

In a dispatch posted at 6:07pm Baghdad time Thursday afternoon, the Yaqen News Agency reported that the Ninwa Province police recovered the bodies of three women in the city of al-Mawsil, 420km northwest of Baghdad on Thursday.

Yaqen reported two of the unidentified bodies were found in the al-Mithaq neighborhood of eastern al-Mawsil. They had been shot in the head.

The third woman’s body was found with her throat slit and the knife placed on her body. Those remains were found elsewhere in the city, Yaqen reported the police source as saying, without specifying where that had been.

Since 10 May, the US and its Iraqi regime allies have been waging an offensive against the al-Qa‘idah organization, known for its suicide attacks, in al-Mawsil and surrounding Ninwa Province.

Mortar attack targets TV stations in al-Mawsil.

In a dispatch posted at 3:59pm Baghdad time Thursday afternoon, the Association of Muslim Scholars of Iraq (AMSI) reported that five mortar shells landed on the buildings housing the al-‘Iraqiyah and al-Mawsiliyah TV stations in the city of al-Mawsil, 420km northwest of Baghdad.

The AMSI reported a source in the provincial police as saying that the attacks, which targeted the TV station buildings in the al-Karamah neighborhood of eastern al-Mawsil, caused no casualties. Iraqi National Guard forces, who were posted in the buildings, responded to the attack by deploying in the nearby al-Quds neighborhood to lay down a security cordon and search for the attackers.

Since 10 May, the US and its Iraqi regime allies have been waging an offensive against the al-Qa‘idah organization, known for its suicide attacks, in al-Mawsil and surrounding Ninwa Province.

Judge dies in hosptial following attack in al-Mawsil on Wednesday morning.

In a dispatch posted at 1:35pm Baghdad time Thursday afternoon, the Yaqen News Agency reported that a court judge who was the target of an armed attack to the north of al-Mawsil on Wednesday died in hospital on Thursday.

Yaqen reported that Judge Muhammad Khalf as-Sabil died Thursday of wounds sustained when gunmen attacked him near his home in the as-Sadiq neighborhood Wednesday.

Since 10 May, the US and its Iraqi regime allies have been waging an offensive against the al-Qa‘idah organization, known for its suicide attacks, in al-Mawsil and surrounding Ninwa Province.

Al-Qayyarah.

Car bomber kills three Iraqi policemen in al-Qayyarah Thursday morning.

In a dispatch posted on its Arabic website at 4:12pm Thursday morning Beijing time (11:12am in Baghdad), the Xinhua News Agency reported that a car bomber attacked an Iraqi police patrol in the al-Qayyarah area, some 370km northwest of Baghdad, on Thursday morning.

Xinhua reported a source in the police in the provincial capital of al-Mawsil, about 50km northwest of al-Qayyarah, as saying that the attacker drove an explosives-laden car into the patrol, killing three patrolmen and wounding four more of them, one of them gravely. Two police vehicles were totally destroyed in the attack, and numerous shops in the area were also damaged.

Since 10 May, the US and its Iraqi regime allies have been waging an offensive against the al-Qa‘idah organization, known for its suicide attacks, in al-Mawsil and surrounding Ninwa Province.

Wasit Province.
Al-Kut.

Police raid, shut down “Awakening” office in al-Kut.

In a dispatch posted at 4:20pm Baghdad time Thursday afternoon, the Yaqen News Agency reported that Iraqi government security forces raided the office of the tribal “Awakening” police in al-Kut, 180km southeast of Baghdad, on Thursday.

Yaqen reported the office manager Ahmad al-Maliki as saying that the police closed down the “Awakening” office in the al-Kafa’at section of downtown al-Kut and arrested three employees who were there at the time of the raid. Al-Maliki said that the government forces also seized a number of official documents and some of his private correspondence.

Al-Maliki did indicate the reason for the raid and shutdown of the office. Yaqen noted that the “Awakening” in al-Kut had been founded just two months ago with the purpose of forming a political party to take part in the next round of elections in Iraq. The chief of the Sunni tribal “Awakening” movement is Ahmad Abu Rishah.

Iraqi regime forces raid pro-Iranian Sadr office in al-Kut, arrest guard.

In a dispatch posted at 10:38am Baghdad time Thursday morning, the Yaqen News Agency reported that Iraqi regime forces raided the offices of the pro-Iranian Sadr Movement in al-Kut, 180km southeast of Baghdad, at dawn on Thursday.

Yaqen reported a source in the Wasit Province police as saying that the police raided the office searching for “wanted men” and then arrested the guard posted there “on suspicion.” The source said that the guard was being interrogated and would be released if it nothing could be proved against him.

Since March, the US-backed Iraqi regime has been actively engaged in an offensive against the pro-Iranian Shi‘i clerical Sadr Movement and its armed wing, the Jaysh al-Mahdi militia, in Iraq, in what is believed to be preparation for an American attack on Iran.

Karbala’ Province.
Karbala’.

Iraqi regime forces capture four members of Iranian-backed Jaysh al-Mahdi militia in Karbala’ Thursday.

In a dispatch posted at 2:25pm Baghdad time Thursday afternoon, the Yaqen News Agency reported that Iraqi regime forces arrested four members of the Iranian-backed Jaysh al-Mahdi Shi‘i-sectarian militia north of Karbala’ on Thursday.

Yaqen reported Major General Ra’id Shakir Jawdat as saying that security forces captured the four men in the garden of a local Shi‘i mosque. He added that 12 Katyusha rockets were found along with the men.

Dhi Qar Province.
An-Nasiriyah.

Iraqi regime forces capture four members of Iranian-backed “Special Detachments” in an-Nasiriyah.

In a dispatch posted at 4:55pm Baghdad time Thursday afternoon, the Yaqen News Agency reported that provincial government police arrested for members of the Iranian-backed “Special Detachments” and seized weapons in raids in eastern an-Nasiriyah, 320km southeast of Baghdad.

Yaqen reported a source in the police as saying that a total of 10 Kalashnikov assault rifles, communication equipment, and a bullet-proof vest were seized in the course of the raids as well.

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