9 Iraqis Killed in War Attacks, According to June 16, 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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2 people killed, 1 wounded, 23 arrested in Iraq in 7 hours

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Monday , 16 /06 /2008 Time 10:14:32

Baghdad, Jun 16, (VOI) – Two people were killed, one was wounded, while security forces arrested 23 persons in the violent acts that took place in Iraq today, from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m., security forces said.
These statistics increase the casualties in Iraq during the last 24 hours to six dead people, 11 injuries, and 23 arrests.
In Ninewa, Multi National Forces in Iraq said that they arrested two wanted persons and nine suspects, during an operation that targeted al-Qaeda Organization's elements in Mosul city, according to a release issued by the forces.
While security sources in that Northern Province said that two college students were killed on Monday noon, as they tried to escape when a security force from the province's operations command attempted to arrest them.
One of the force's personnel was wounded during the operation.
In Basra, a security source said that police forces on Monday arrested 12 persons wanted for "terror and criminal" cases, and seized an amount of grenades and fuses in raid operations at different places of Basra.
In Wassit, Colonel Nijm Ubeid al-Khafaji, police chief of al-Suwaiyra town, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI) that a police force on Monday noon fished out the unknown body of a military man from the Tigris River north of Wassit.
In al-Muthana, Governor Ahmed Marzog al-Salal on Monday told VOI that he ordered security forces' commanders to remove all concrete blocks in the province, excluding the governorate's street that embraces security forces' offices in the city.
MH/SR

2 students killed on Mosul campus

Ninewa - Voices of Iraq
Monday , 16 /06 /2008 Time 10:14:32
Mosul, Jun 16, (VOI) -

Two Mosul University students were killed on Monday afternoon during an attempt to arrest them by security forces, security sources said.

"A force from the Ninewa operations command tried to arrest two students inside the Mosul university campus," a police source told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI) on condition of anonymity.
"They were killed during the attempt to arrest them and one security forces was wounded," he added.
"The two are wanted men. One of them is a student in the faculty of management and economics, while the other is a student in the faculty of literature," he noted.
For his part, a security source said "security forces told the university guards that they will arrest two wanted students."

"One of the two students was killed during clashes on campus, while the other died of wounds he sustained during the clashes," he added.
He did not add more details.
This is the second incident in Iraqi universities, where final exams are currently being held.
Yesterday, a university professor was killed by unknown gunmen while heading for his work in al-Hadbaa neighborhood in northern Mosul. Two of his sons were wounded in the attack, one of them is in a critical condition.
Mosul, the capital of Ninewa, lies 405 km north of Baghdad

SH/SR

Unknown body fished out from Tigris river in Wassit

Wassit - Voices of Iraq
Monday , 16 /06 /2008 Time 10:14:32
Kut, Jun 16, (VOI) -

A police force on Monday fished out the unknown body of a military man from the Tigris river north of Wassit, the chief of al-Suwaiyra town said.
“Policemen from al-Suwaiyra, north of Wassit, fished out the body of a man wearing a military uniform from the Tigris river,” Colonel Nijm Ubeid al-Khafaji told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).
“The body bore signs of torture and gunshot wounds to the head. His hands were tied behind his back,” he added.
“The body was sent to the forensic medicine department in al-Zahraa hospital in Kut city,” the colonel noted.
“This is the third body to be fished out of the area this week,” he added.
Kut, the capital of Wassit, lies 180 km southeast of Baghdad.

SH/SR

SS
Basra airport temporarily closed after attack on British base

Basra - Voices of Iraq
Monday , 16 /06 /2008 Time 10:14:32

Basra, Jun 16, (VOI) – Basra International Airport was temporarily closed on Monday morning in the aftermath of a Katyusha rocket attack that targeted the British base stationed there, a spokesman for the Multi-National Force (MNF) in southern Iraq said.

"On Monday, a Katyusha rocket attack targeted an MNF base at Basra International Airport, but caused no casualties or damage among the MNF," the spokesman told Aswat al-Iraq-Voices of Iraq- (VOI).
"A few rockets fell on the airport, forcing authorities to close its runway for hours," the spokesman explained.
Air traffic resumed after the damage had been repaired, according to the spokesman.
"British forces will work side by side with the Iraqi security forces and government to help restore security and stability to Basra's streets," he added.
The attacks will not hinder assistance efforts, but will negatively influence the inflow on foreign investments, the spokesman said.
The attack is the third on British troops stationed at Basra International Airport in a matter of two weeks
Britain, the United States' prime ally in the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, keeps 4,100 troops within the MNF in the country. British soldiers are stationed in one base - Basra International Airport - after handing over the former presidential palaces, which they procured as a military base, to the Iraqi forces.

The province of Basra lies 590 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

SS

3 Sahwa fighters killed, 2 wounded in Diala blast

Diala - Voices of Iraq
Monday , 16 /06 /2008 Time 10:14:32
Diala, Jun 16, (VOI) –

Three (US-recruited) Sahwa Council fighters were killed and two others were wounded in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in southern Baaqua city, local authorities said.

"Today, an explosive charge detonated near a checkpoint set by Sahwa forces in Bahraz's village of Abu Fayyad, southern Baaquba, killing three Sahwa fighters and wounding two others," the source, who requested anonymity, told Aswat al-Iraq-Voices of Iraq- (VOI).
The source did not provide further details.
Baaquba, the capital city of Diala province, lies 57 km northeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

SS

Cop killed, civilians wounded in simultaneous attacks in Mosul

Ninewa - Voices of Iraq
Monday , 16 /06 /2008 Time 10:14:32
Ninewa, Jun 16, (VOI) –

An Iraqi policeman was killed and four civilians were wounded in simultaneous attacks in Ninewa's Mosul city, the Multi-National Force (MNF) said on Monday.

"An Iraqi policeman was killed in simultaneous improvised explosive device (IED) attacks carried out by al-Qaeda-in-Iraq on four houses and three vehicles belonging to Iraqi security forces in Mosul, June 16," according to an MNF statement received by Aswat al-Iraq-Voices of Iraq-(VOI).
"Four local residents, including a child of an Iraqi policeman, were wounded in the attacks," the statement noted.

The statement did not provide further details.
Mosul, the capital city of Ninewa province, lies 405 km north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

SS

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www.albasrah.net

Iraq War Report for events of Monday, 16 June 2008.

Translated and/or compiled by Muhammad Abu Nasr,

member, editorial board, the Free Arab Voice.

Monday, 16 June 2008.

·        One child killed, four homes blown up by suspected al-Qa‘idah gunmen in pre-dawn hours of Monday.

·        Anti-occupation forces blast Polish “Camp Echo” near ad-Diwaniyah with 15 Katyusha rockets before dawn Monday.

·        Iraqi regime forces arrest 12 more anti-occupation militiamen in continued offensive against Jaysh al-Mahdi militia in al-Basrah.

·        Rockets blast into British base at al-Basrah Airport before dawn Monday.

Baghdad.

Bombs kill, wound civilians Monday morning.

In a dispatch posted on its Arabic website at 6:25pm Monday afternoon Beijing time (2:25pm in Baghdad), the Xinhua News Agency reported that a bomb exploded by an Iraqi army patrol near the Ibn al-Haytham College of Education in the Sunni al-A‘zamiyah area of northern Baghdad on Monday morning.

Xinhua reported a source in the police as saying that the blast killed a civilian and wounded five more civilians and three soldiers. A patrol vehicle was also destroyed.

Then, about 15 minutes after the first bomb, another bomb went off at the entrance to the College of Education, wounding four students, all of whom were taken to the Health Center in the college for treatment.

Diyala Province.
Buhriz.

Three tribal support policemen killed in bomb attack in Buhriz Monday.

In a dispatch posted at 11:03am Baghdad time Monday morning, the Yaqen News Agency reported that three of the tribal support troops recruited to back up US and Iraqi regime forces were killed and two more wounded in a bomb attack near Buhriz, 60km northeast of Baghdad on Monday.

At-Ta’mim/Kirkuk Province.
Kirkuk.

Electricity worker wounded in bomb attack Monday.

In a dispatch posted at 2:50pm Baghdad time Monday afternoon, the Yaqen News Agency reported that a bomb exploded by city maintenance workers at an electric power line in Kirkuk, 250km north of Bahgdad on Monday.

Yaqen reported a source in the city police as saying that the blast wounded one of the workers when it went off in the ar-Rashad area of western Kirkuk. The victim was taken to Kirkuk General Hospital for treatment.

Ninwa Province.
Al-Mawsil.

Two university students killed in gun battle with police on al-Mawsil University Campus midday Monday.

In a dispatch posted at 5:15pm Baghdad time Monday afternoon, the Yaqen News Agency reported that Iraqi regime troops shot and killed two university students during an attempt to arrest them in al-Mawsil, 420km northwest of Baghdad, midday Monday.

Yaqen reported a source in the police as saying that Ninwa Operations Command police tried to arrest two al-Mawsil University students on the campus of the university, sparking a battle. One of the students was killed on the scene, the other died later in hospital. One of the policemen was wounded.

Four homes in al-Mawsil blown up in pre-dawn hours of Monday.

In a dispatch posted on its Arabic website at 3:34pm Monday afternoon Beijing time (11:34am in Baghdad), the Xinhua News Agency reported that gunmen raided four homes in greater al-Mawsil, 420km northwest of Baghdad before dawn Monday and blew them up, killing a child and wounding two other people.

Xinhua reported a source in the police as saying that at 3am local time, gunmen raided the home of Kamal Husam ad-Din, an official with the US-backed Kurdish separatist National Union of Kurdistan – a party led by Iraqi President Jalal Talibani. The home of an official of the pro-American Iraqi Communist Party was also raided, as was the home of an Iraqi officer and a fourth dwelling belonging to a soldier in the Iraqi regime army. All the houses were in the ar-Rashidiyah area of northern al-Mawsil.

The source said that the gunmen took advantage of the fact that the residents were sleeping on their rooftops to plant explosives inside the homes and then blow them up simultaneously. Several private cars and neighboring houses were also destroyed in the bombings.

Since 10 May, the US and its Iraqi regime allies have been conducting an offensive against the al-Qa‘idah organization in al-Mawsil.

Maysan Province.
Al-‘Amarah.

Iraqi regime troops complete preparations for offensive against anti-occupation forces in al-‘Amarah.

In a dispatch posted on its Arabic website at 6:03pm Monday afternoon Beijing time (2:03pm in Baghdad), the Xinhua News Agency reported that Iraqi regime forces had completed their deployment in al-‘Amarah, 290km southeast of Baghdad, in preparation for a major offensive against the anti-occupation Jaysh al-Mahdi militia there.

Xinhua reported Nusayr al-‘Abbadi, the Iraqi Army’s Chief of Staff, as saying that army troops, Interior Ministry troops, Rapid Deployment forces, and general reservists had completed their maneuvers and preparations for the offensive in Maysan province. He called on tribal leaders in the area to cooperate with the regime against the anti-occupation forces – as tribes have done elsewhere in the country.

On Sunday operations began in the latest US-backed offensive against the Jaysh al-Mahdi. It follows similar offensives against the anti-occupation Jaysh al-Mahdi in Madinat as-Sadr in Baghdad, al-Basrah, and other areas in the country. The move against the Jaysh al-Mahdi is seen as an American preparation for an eventual US assault on Iran.

Al-Qadisiyah Province.
Ad-Diwaniyah.

Anti-occupation forces blast Polish “Camp Echo” with 15 Katyusha rockets before dawn Monday.

In a dispatch posted at 10am Baghdad time Monday morning, the Yaqen News Agency reported that a barrage of more than 15 Katyusha rockets slammed into Camp Echo, a facility occupied by Polish troops serving the American occupation regime in Iraq.

Yaqen reported a source in the ad-Diwaniyah police as saying that the attack on the camp took place after midnight in the early hours of Monday. The source said that the rockets were fired from various parts of the city simultaneously. No information on the nature or extent of casualties or damage was available.

The Polish occupation troops responded to the attack by firing more than 10 of their own rockets in the general direction from which the incoming fire had originated. No information on the results of the Polish barrage was available either.

One witness reported seeing ambulances rushing about various parts of ad-Diwaniyah, 180km south of Baghdad, in the aftermath of the Polish attack, and that Iraqi regime troops also deployed throughout the city at that point.

The anti-occupation Jaysh al-Mahdi militia, which is active in southern Iraq, had made extensive use of Katyusha rockets in its attacks on US, British, and other positions of th occupation forces in Iraq.

Al-Basrah Province.
Al-Basrah.

Iraqi regime forces arrest 12 more anti-occupation militiamen in continued offensive against Jaysh al-Mahdi militia in al-Basrah.

In a dispatch posted at 8:45pm Baghdad time Monday evening, the Yaqen News Agency reported that joint forces of Iraqi regime army and police units continued their offensive of raids and searches against the anti-occupation Jaysh al-Mahdi militia in the southern province of al-Basrah on Thursday, arresting 12 more individuals it said belonged to the militia. Yaqen reported a source in the police as saying that the troops also seized hand grenades.

Since March, the US-backed Iraqi regime has been actively engaged in an offensive against the anti-occupation Jaysh al-Mahdi militia in Iraq, in what is believed to be preparation for an eventual American attack on Iran.

Rockets blast into British base at al-Basrah Airport before dawn Monday.

In a dispatch posted on its Arabic website at 3:54pm Monday afternoon Beijing time (11:54am in Baghdad), the Xinhua News Agency reported that Katyusha rockets blasted into the British base at al-Basrah International Airport at 2:30am before dawn Monday.

Xinhua reported a British spokesman as saying that about eight rockets targeted the British-occupied airport. Some of them exploded on the airport runway, but claimed that they caused no casualties or damage.

Monday’s pre-dawn rocket attack was the third such barrage on the British base in the last 10 days. Since March, al-Basrah has been one major area in which the US and its Iraqi regime allies have been pursuing an offensive against the anti-occupation movement of Shi‘i religious leader Muqtada as-Sadr and its armed wing the Jaysh al-Mahdi militia.

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