War News for Wednesday, October 14, 2009

No International Security Assistance Force service members were killed during the past 24 hours.


Around 90,000 flee South Waziristan fearing operation:

In Kabul, Little Hope That a Runoff Will Be Fair:

Biden No Longer a Lone Voice on Afghanistan:

A Historic Success In Military Recruiting:


Reported Security incidents:

Baghdad:
#1: Iraqi police and hospital officials say at least eight people were killed and nine others wounded during a shootout following the robbery of two jewelry stores in Baghdad. An Iraqi police official said gunmen in two cars robbed the shops in Baghdad's Shula neighborhood on Wednesday. The official says that after stealing some gold and money, the robbers started to shoot wildly as they made their escape.

#2: A bomb attached to the car of a senior Sunni cleric known for denouncing violence exploded Wednesday in northern Baghdad, the third such attack against a cleric in recent weeks, an Iraqi army official said. Sheik Abdul-Sattar al-Janabi, who leads the biggest Sunni mosque in Baghdad, was wounded in the bombing. His injuries were not life-threatening, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information.

#3: Simultaneous mortar attacks have jolted a popular market in the northwest of Baghdad, killing seven people and wounding another 14. Three mortars landed in Jawadain market in the Iraqi capital's Shaala neighborhood at around noon (0900 GMT) on Wednesday, AFP quoted an Interior Ministry official as saying on condition of anonymity.


Diyala Prv:
#1: At least six persons were killed and ten others were wounded in a suicide bombing attack targeting a Sahwa leader in south of Baaquba, a security source said on Tuesday. “A suicide bomber blew up an explosive belt strapped to his body on Tuesday (Oct. 13) targeting the south of Baaquba Sahwa official leader Leith Mashaan who was in a store in central Bahraz district, south of Baaquba,” the source informed Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “The explosion killed the official leader along with five others, including three Sahwa elements and injuring ten, including four Sahwa elements,” he added.


Diwaniya:
#1: One Katyusha rocket landed on Tuesday near an Iraqi military checkpoint, without leaving casualties, a military source said. “The rocket landed on Tuesday morning (Oct. 13) near a checkpoint of the 8th division of the Iraqi army near Said Maheel village, southern U.S. Camp Echo, without causing casualties,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency, noting that the rocket was launched from al-Shafiaaya region, western Diwaniya.


Mosul:
#1: A roadside bomb targeted civilians in Zinjilli neighbourhood, central Mosul, Tuesday injuring two women.

#2: A roadside bomb targeted a checkpoint manned by police in al Boursa neighbourhood, Tuesday, injuring one guard.

#3: Gunmen in a car opened fire and killed an off-duty security guard in eastern Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.



Afghanistan: "The Forgotten War"
#1: A coalition helicopter conducted an emergency landing Oct. 13 in southern Afghanistan. No one was injured. Enemy engagement has been ruled out as the cause of the landing, and further details of the incident are under investigation.

#2: Pakistani aircraft bombed Taliban fighters in their South Waziristan bastion on Wednesday as more soldiers and tanks moved in for an expected offensive against the militant hub. "It was intense bombing. Three hideouts were hit," Mohammad Khalid Khan, a senior government official in the region's main town of Wana, told Reuters by telephone. Khan did not have information about casualties but intelligence officials in the region said at least 10 militants were killed.

#3: Afghan and U.S.-led coalition forces killed 30 Taliban insurgents in an operation in Chora district of southern Uruzgan province since Tuesday, the Afghan Interior Ministry said. The operation was still under way, the ministry said, without giving detail and possible casualties among the forces.

#4: Afghan army and U.S.-led coalition killed 11 insurgents in an offensive in Ghazni province to the southwest of Kabul, the Afghan defence ministry said on Wednesday.

#5: Four insurgents were killed by two separate explosions of landmines they planned to plant in two different parts of Afghanistan, the ministry said.

#6: A roadside bomb killed two Afghan soldiers and wounded six troops in southern Zabul province, the defence ministry said.


DoD: Lance Cpl. Alfonso Ochoa Jr.

DoD: Staff Sgt. Aaron J. Taylor