U.S. military vehicle damaged by IED in Diwaniya

January 3, 2011 - 09:39:10

DIWANIYA / Aswat al-Iraq:

A U.S. military vehicle was damaged on Monday by an improvised explosive device in west of Diwaniya, according to a military source.

“The bomb exploded near a U.S. convoy in al-Shamiya district, west of Diwaniya, damaging a U.S. vehicle,” the source, who asked to remain anonymous, told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

“American forces cordon off the whole region, preventing vehicles coming from Najaf to enter the province for hours,” he added, without giving further details.

Diwaniya lies 180 km south of Baghdad.

SH (P)

6 mortars hit U.S. base in Babel

January 3, 2011 - 07:06:42

BABEL / Aswat al-Iraq:

Six mortar shells hit the U.S. base in north of Hilla on Monday, according to a police source from al-Mahaweel police station.

“U.S. forces contacted al-Mahaweel police station after six mortar shells hit the U.S. base in al-Musayab region, north of Hilla, and asked the police to investigate the incident,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

He did not give more details.

Hilla, the capital of Babel, lies 100 km south of Baghdad.

SH (P)

Ba'aquba suicide attack casualties up to 20

January 3, 2011 - 03:40:18

DIALA / Aswat al-Iraq:

Casualties from the suicide attack that took place near a security building in central Ba'aquba, went up to 2 dead and 18 wounded, according to a security source.

“The suicide car bomb attack which targeted a building belongs to the intelligence service, central Ba'aquba, killed two and injured 18,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

“Ten female students are among the wounded,” he added.

The same source had said earlier that one person was killed and 15 were wounded in the explosion.

Ba'aquba, the capital of Diala, lies 57 km northeast of Baghdad.

SH (P)/SR

Two U.S. soldiers killed in Baghdad, first American victims in New Year:

January 3, 2011 - 12:40:04

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq:

Two U.S. soldiers have been killed in central Baghdad on Monday, being the first Americans killed in Iraq in the New Year, the U.S. Army’s Media Consultant said.

“Two American soldiers have been killed this morning (Monday) in a combat incident in central Baghdad, the first of its kind since the beginning of the New Year - 2011,” Nader Sulaiman told Aswat al-Iraq news agency, giving no further details.

The total American soldiers killed in Iraq since its occupation by the U.S. and Britain in 2003, had reached 4,430, whilst 2010 had recorded a large decrease in U.S. Army victims in Iraq, when its losses had reached 60 soldiers killed during the year, compared with 150 victims in 2009.

AL (A) / SKH

Six Iraqi security officers assassinated in Baghdad

January 3, 2011 - 09:15:25

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq:

The Iraqi capital witnessed on Sunday night the assassination of six security officers and elements, as well as government employees in different parts of the city, a security source said on Monday.

“A group of unknown gunmen carried out an assassination campaign, pinpointed against a number of security officers and elements in different parts of Baghdad on Sunday night. The campaign included attempts targeting a Lt. Brigadier in the Traffic Department, who was assassinated in eastern Baghdad’s Canal district,” he said.

An Army officer, holding the rank of major, was shot dead in central Baghdad’s Tahariat District, the source noted. An Interior Ministry element was also killed in the center of the city, along with another Interior Ministry element who was assassinated. An engineer in north Baghdad’s Aadhamiya district was killed in Suleikh district, northwest of Baghdad.

The security official also said that a Lt. Brigadier in the Interior Ministry was wounded when a group of armed men opened fire on him close to northern Baghdad’s Al-Nidaa mosque.

SKH/SR