War News for Monday, July 06, 2009

The British MoD is announcing the death of an ISAF soldier from an IED attack near Gereshk, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on Sunday, July 5th.

The Canadian DND/CF is reporting the death of a Canadian ISAF soldier. Master-Corporal Charles-Philippe died in a Quebec hospital on Friday, July 4th. He was originally injured in an IED strike in the Panjwayi District, Kandahar province, Afghanistan on Tuesday, June 23rd.

The AP is reporting the deaths of four ISAF soldiers in an IED attack in an undisclosed location in northern Afghanistan on Monday, July 6th. The governor of Kunduz province is quoted as saying American soldiers were targeted.

The Washington post is reporting the deaths of two more American ISAF service-personal in an IED strike in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Monday, July 6th.


Taliban launch ‘operation’ against Marines:

Turkey: Four killed in explosion in southeast:

U.S. servicemembers withdraw from Iraqi cities, move to main installations:

Sandstorms plague Iraq and are getting worse:


Reported Security incidents:

Baghdad:
#1: Iraqi authorities say gunmen have killed five people in an attack on a security checkpoint in Baghdad. An army officer and an interior ministry official say the attack on the checkpoint in western Baghdad on Sunday night killed two Iraqi police officers and three soldiers.

Three Iraqi soldiers and two policemen have been gunned down at a security checkpoint in Baghdad, the worst such incident since US combat troops left the city, a defence ministry official says. The attack occurred just before midnight on Sunday in the western district of Al-Khadrah.

#2: Insurgents threw a hand bomb at a police patrol in Korneesh Street, central Mosul at noon Sunday, killing one policeman.

#3: And another hand bomb was thrown at another police patrol in the same street 30 minutes later injuring one police officer and one traffic policeman.

#4: An insurgent threw a hand bomb at a police patrol in Korneesh Street, central Mosul early Sunday evening, killing one police officer and injuring six civilians.


Diyala Prv:
#1: A roadside bomb hidden in a trash barrel targeted an Iraqi army patrol Saturday evening injuring three service members and destroying their vehicle.

Baquba:
#1: Nine civilians on Sunday were wounded when three explosive charges ripped through an internet café in Diala’s Baaquba city, according to a local security source. “This evening, three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) detonated inside an internet café in Nahr al-Hajiya area, downtown Baaquba, wounding nine civilians and causing considerable damage to the café,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#2: Insurgents blew up a shop that sells entertainment CDs in central Baquba, early Sunday evening. The explosion severely injured six people including the two owners of the business, and completely destroyed the shop.


Makhmour:
#1: Iraqi army forces on Sunday found an unknown body belonging to a young man in northern Iraq, according to an army source. “The body, which bore signs of gunshot wounds, was found near al-Qasimiya village (27 km west of Makhmour),” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.


Kirkuk:
#1: Security forces on Sunday defused three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Kirkuk province, according to an informed source. “This morning, two explosive devices were found in al-Barghliya village, Huweija district (65 km southwest of Kirkuk),” a source from the Joint Coordination Center told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “During an early hour this morning, patrol vehicles found a third explosive charge in al-Muradiya village, al-Riyad district (45 km southwest of Kirkuk),” the source noted, adding that all of the devices were defused without causing any damage.

#2: Unknown gunmen have kidnapped a policeman near Kirkuk city, a source from the Joint Coordination Center said on Monday. “The kidnap occurred on Yayji-Kirkuk road (25 km southwest of Kirkuk city),” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.


Mosul:
#1: A police official in Mosul said a car bomb on Monday targeted a police patrol but missed, killing an 18-year-old man and injuring eight other bystanders. He also spoke on condition of anonymity.

#2: Sunday One policeman on Sunday was killed by unknown gunmen in Mosul city, according to a local security source. “The cop was killed while on duty in front of the electricity department in al-Faisaliya area, eastern Mosul,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#3: Eight persons on Monday were injured when a booby-trapped car exploded in Mosul city, according to a local police source. “Today, a car bomb detonated in Wadi Hajar area, southern Mosul, wounding eight persons,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.The blast did not target security personnel, the source noted.

#4: A traffic policeman on Monday was injured when unknown gunmen opened fire on him in Mosul city, according to a local police source. “Brig. Safaaldin Mahmoud from Ninewa’s traffic police was wounded while on duty in al-Darkziya area, eastern Mosul,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.



Afghanistan: "The Forgotten War"
#1: Sixteen Afghan nationals working for the UN-sponsored demining agency, who were kidnapped over the weekend, have been freed unharmed. The personnel from the Mine Detection and Dog Centre (MDC) -- which is part of the overall UN mine clearing agency in Afghanistan known as UNMACA -- were seized by unknown gunmen in Afghanistan's eastern Paktia province on Saturday. The provincial tribal chiefs were able to secure the release of the men late on Sunday after making contact with the kidnappers, Sherin Agha Ahmad Shah, head of the MDC in Paktia said on Monday. "The kidnappers were thieves and the tribal chiefs negotiated the release of the workers without any ransom or any deal," he told reporters, without giving further details.

#2: Separately, no further information has emerged about two Afghan employees working for Dutch aid agency HealthNet TPO (HNI) -- specialized in rehabilitating healthcare systems in war zones and disaster areas -- who the Afghan Health Ministry said were abducted in neighboring Khost province on Saturday.

#3: A suicide car bomber struck early Monday outside the main NATO base in southern Afghanistan, killing two civilians and wounding 14 other people. The bomber blew himself up near the gates of Kandahar Airfield, said Gen. Sher Mohammad Zazai, the top military commander for southern Afghanistan. Those wounded included 12 civilians and two Afghan soldiers, Zazai said. Initially police said four soldiers were wounded.

Troops engaged in small-arms fire with insurgents, NATO Lt. Commander Christopher Hall said in Kabul, but he did not have further details.

Two Afghan truck drivers were killed when a suicide car bomber blew himself up outside Kandahar Air Field, a major foreign military base in southern Kandahar province, Afghan army General Sher Mohammad Zazai said. At least 10 were wounded, he said.

#4: thousands of U.S. Marines in neighboring Helmand province mounted a major offensive against the Taliban. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Helmand offensive is "the first significant one" since President Barack Obama ordered 21,000 additional troops to Afghanistan to try to reverse the militant gains. "We've made some advances early. But I suspect it's going to be tough for a while," Mullen told CBS News' "Face the Nation" on Sunday. The admiral described the goal of Marines' push as not just driving out the Taliban from areas they control, but securing the area to allow the Afghan government to operate.

#5: Afghan forces killed seven Taliban insurgents in a clash in southern Uruzgan province on Monday, a provincial police chief said. Two police officers were wounded. The Taliban could not be reached immediately for comment.

#6: Two Afghan soldiers were killed and seven wounded in a landmine blast in Paktia on Sunday, the Defence Ministry said.

#7: Fourteen militants were killed and few others were apprehended while four soldiers were injured in military operation in northwest Pakistan during last 24 hours, an army press release said on Monday. Security forces carried out search operation in Swat, Dir, Buner and Bannu district in North West Frontier Province (NWFP). 14 militants were killed and several others arrested during exchange of fire with security forces, and a large quantity of arms and devices were recovered, according to the press release.

#8: Two bombs exploded Monday at the main gate of a police office in northwest Pakistan, injuring a pedestrian and damaging the office, according to the local TV channel. According to police, the first bomb planted at the main gate of the police office in Tehsil Shabqadar of North West Frontier Province exploded on Monday morning, injuring a passerby and partially damaging the office, the private TV channel GEO reported. Police recovered another explosive planted at the same place and called bomb disposal squad but the bomb exploded. The office was severely damaged in the second bombing.