War News for Thursday, May 01, 2008

MNF-Iraq is reporting a death of a Multi-National Division - North soldier in an explosion in Ninewah Province on Wednesday, April 30th. No other details were released.

The DoD is reporting a new death of a soldier in a non-combat related incident at Camp Buehring, Kuwait on Sunday, April 27th. No other details were released.

The DoD is reporting a new death of a soldier in a small arms fire attack in Bastion, near Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on Tuesday, April 29th. No other details were released.

The DoD is reporting a new death of a Marine, Sgt. Merlin German, who died on April 11 at Brooke Army Medical Center from wounds received while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province on February. 22, 2005.

Reported Security incidents:

Baghdad:
#1: A car bomb aimed at a U.S. patrol in Baghdad on Thursday killed at least nine Iraqi civilians and wounded 26, police said. The explosion occurred about 9:15 a.m. in a crowded commercial area in eastern Baghdad, police officials said, adding the nine killed included three women and a child. The U.S. military said no American soldiers were killed, although three were wounded in the attack.

A parked car bomb exploded targeting a US military convoy in Camp Sara moving in the direction of the Sina'ah (industrial) street, central Baghdad at 9.20 Thursday. The explosion killed 8 civilians and 1 American soldier, wounding 21 civilians and 2 American soldiers, said Iraqi Police. No comment was available from the US military at the time of publication.

#2: In fighting late Wednesday and early Thursday in Sadr City, U.S. soldiers killed 17 militants in a series of clashes. Several of the militants had fired on the military or were preparing to. Other militants were killed while planting a roadside bomb. The fighting was reported in statements issued Thursday by the military.

Health officials also said clashes in Baghdad's Shiite militia stronghold of Sadr City killed eight people, including two women and a child, and wounded 18 others, including women and children.
The Iraqi officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to release the information.

#3: Random fire from 4 SUVs belonging to a private security company injured 1 civilian. The incident took place in Tayaran Square, central Baghdad at 1 pm.

#4: A roadside bomb exploded targeting a police patrol passing under Ghadeer traffic fly over in Ghadeer neighbourhood, east Baghdad at 1.15 pm, injuring 2 policemen and 3 civilians.

#5: A mortar shell landed on the al-Salhiya residential compound in central Baghdad, wounding three people, police said.

#6: A roadside bomb exploded targeting a US military convoy in Bayaa, southwest Baghdad at 4 pm. No casualties were reported.

#7: A roadside bomb exploded in Zafaraniyah near al-Kubaisi Mosque at around 6 pm injuring 3 civilians.

#8: A roadside bomb exploded in al-Obaidi neighbourhood near al-Obaidi Mosque at around 6 pm injuring 5 civilians.

#9: Armed clashes broke out in Amil between gunmen and US military forces at 8.30 pm and are continuous at time of publication, and no report of casualties is available yet.

#10: 5 unidentified bodies were found in Baghdad by Iraqi Police today. 1 in al-Nidhal Dtreet; 1 in al-Amin; 1 in Shaab and 2 in Saidiyah.

Diyala Prv:
Bahraz:
#1: An Iraqi soldier was killed on Thursday and four more were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded targeting their vehicle patrol in south of Baaquba city, a police source said. “An explosive charge went off targeting an Iraqi army vehicle patrol in Abu Khamees region in Bahraz district, south of Baaquba, killing one soldier and seriously injuring four more,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq.

Balad Ruz
#1: Iraqi police say a double suicide bombing has struck a wedding convoy, killing at least 30 people and wounding 65 others. Police say Thursday's attacks occurred in the town of Balad Ruz northeast of Baghdad.


Dalouiya:
#1: Two gunmen were killed, two cops were wounded, and two mass graves were found in a security raid in eastern Dalouiya, the chief of local police said on Thursday. “Police and army forces, backed by U.S. troops, launched a crackdown operation in al-Busaliebi region in eastern Dalouiya after receiving intelligence tips on the presence of al-Qaeda gunmen in the region,” Colonel Mohamed Khaled Abdul Hamid told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq. “The operation witnessed a shootout between the forces and two gunmen, identified as Arab nationals,” he added. “The clashes led the gunmen to blow themselves up by explosive belts, injuring two policemen, while three suspected gunmen were arrested,” he explained. “Two mass graves were found at the same place,” the colonel pointed out.


Hawija:
#1: In the northern city of Kirkuk, an Iraqi was killed and three members of the Awakening Council were wounded when a bicycle carrying explosives went off in Howaiyja area, Iraqi police sources told dpa.


Mosul:
#1: A roadside bomb struck an Iraqi patrol car on Thursday, killing two Iraqi soldiers in the northern city of Mosul, police said.



Afghanistan:
#1: In Wednesday's incident, a vehicle carrying the civilians ran over a mine on a dirt road near Spin Boldak, a town in Kandahar province, Kandahar police chief Sayed Aqa Saqib told Reuters.
"In the first explosion, three civilians lost their lives.

The second one went off after the remaining people in the car got out to recover the bodies. In total, eight people were killed and several were wounded," he said.



On the Home Front:
#1: The new £69 million ($137 M.) Typhoon was crash-landed during training in the US. It is thought the pilot may have forgotten to deploy the undercarriage, with a source telling a national newspaper: “Everything points to the pilot forgetting to lower the wheels, which does happen from time to time.” However, the Ministry of Defence stressed RAF investigators had not yet come to any conclusion about why the incident happened.


Casualty Reports:

Army Cpl. Bryan Castro, 21, Oct. 8, 2007, in Iraq, when a bullet from enemy fire shattered his skull. For the past several months, Castro has been recovering at the VA on Miranda Avenue, which specializes in treating traumatic brain injuries. The most visible sign of Castro's injuries are pencil-thin grooves shaved into his buzz cut, showing where surgeons put titanium mesh into his skull.