War News for Thursday, May 07, 2009

May 4 airpower summary:

Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr visits Turkey:

US interrogators may have killed dozens, human rights researcher and rights group say: (I'm not sure of the validity of this site.--whisker)

US security firm Blackwater ends Iraq operation:

Afghans Protest Civilian Deaths:

Iraqi farmers desert land amid agriculture deterioration:

Twelve people executed in Iraq:


Reported Security incidents:

Baghdad:
#1: Around 8:15 p.m. a roadside bomb detonated near a café in Imarat Al-Siha in Abu Dshir in southern Baghdad on Wednesday. Eight people were wounded.


Diyala Prv:
Balad Ruz:
#1: Three Iraqi soldiers were wounded on Thursday when an improvised explosive device went off on their vehicle patrol in Baladruz district in southwest of Baaquba, a security source said. “An explosive charge went off on Thursday (May 7) targeting an Iraqi army vehicle patrol in Bazely region in Baladruz district in southwest of Baaquba, injuring three soldiers,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

Jalawlaa:
#11: Police forces on Thursday found an unknown dead body to the northeast of Baaquba city, said a security source from Diala province. “The corpse was found in Bnera village of Jalawlaa district, 30 km southwest of Khanaqin,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.


Mussayab:
#1: A roadside bomb targeting a government-backed guard unit wounded three people in Mussayab, 60 km (40 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.


Missan Prv:
#1: Two Iraqi fishermen on Wednesday were killed by Iranian fire in the eastern marshes along the Iranian border, according to a security source in Missan province. “An Iranian patrol opened sniper fire on a fishing boat in al-Adheem marshland (70 km east of Amara),” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “Two fishermen were killed, while a third escaped the shooting,” the source added.


Mosul:
#1: A roadside bomb detonated in Al-Jazair neighborhood in eastern Mosul in the afternoon. One person was killed and two others were wounded.

#2: A roadside bomb detonated in Al-Yarmouk neighborhood in western Mosul in the afternoon. Two people were wounded.

#3: A roadside bomb targeted a U.S. military convoy in Ras al Jada neighbourhood, western Mosul at 2 p.m. Thursday injuring two civilians. No casualties were reported on the American side.


Al Anbar Prv:
Fallujah:
#1: A U.S. vehicle was completely burned in a car bomb explosion targeting a U.S. vehicle patrol in northern Falluja, a police source said. “A suicide bomber blew up a booby-trapped car near a U.S. vehicle patrol in al-Sajr region near the international highway, setting a U.S. vehicle ablaze,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “U.S. forces cordoned off the whole region,” he added, giving no further details about possible casualties among the forces.



Afghanistan: "The Forgotten War"
#1: A clash between Afghan National Army (ANA) and militants in eastern Afghan province of Paktia Wednesday claimed the lives of five militants, a statement of Defense Ministry said Thursday. "A group of insurgents on Wednesday attacked an ANA check point in Yahya Khil district where security personnel of ANA launched a cleanup operation killing five enemies," the press release added. It also noted that one militant was detained and four assault rifles and five motorbikes belonging to enemies were also found by ANA.

#2: Islamist militants attacked a security post in Pakistan's troubled north-west, triggering a gunfight that killed at least three militiamen, officials and media reports said Thursday. Scores of rebels raided the main centre of the tribal police in the Chakdara area of the Lower Dir district late Wednesday and took more than a dozen militiamen hostage, a local police official said on condition of anonymity. Security forces launched a rescue effort, triggering a gunbattle that left three militiamen dead, Geo News television channel reported. It was not clear whether the attackers suffered any casualties. The militants also blew up the checkpoint before retreating with the hostages.

#3: In another clash in the Maidan area of Lower Dir, a son of the pro-Taliban cleric Sufi Mohammad, who brokered the February peace accord that led to the introduction of Islamic sharia law in Malakand in mid-April, was killed, Geo News said.

#4: Insurgents killed a district chief, an intelligence officer and an attorney in an ambush in northern Baghlan province on Wednesday, the Interior Ministry said.

#5: The Afghan national army killed five militants in an operation in southeastern Paktika province on Wednesday, the Defence Ministry said.

#6: Seven schoolgirls and a female teacher were wounded when a rocket hit a school in Kunar on Thursday, a provincial official said, blaming militants for the attack.

#7: A suicide bomber blew himself up near a military convoy in Helmand province south of Afghanistan Thursday afternoon killing 10 persons and injuring 17 others, almost all of them civilians, a local police officer Abdul Raziq said.


Casualty Reports:

Specialist Aaron Thompson, 23, of the 266th Military Police Company, Virginia Army National Guard has suffered a severe concussion on May 4, his humvee was hit by an IED and SPC Thompson was in the gun turret at the time.

Sgt. Adam Rondon, 25, in 2007 he had just left the hospital after stepping on an IED, which caused a minor brain injury. It took nine surgeries to remove shrapnel from Rondon's arms and legs. His recovery was unpredictable.