War News for Thursday, December 20, 2011

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an insurgent attack in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, January 19th.

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an insurgent attack in an undisclosed location in northern Afghanistan on Thursday, January 20th.


U.S. Prepares to Lift Ban on Guantánamo Cases


Reported security incidents

Baghdad:
#1: One civilian was killed and 10 others were wounded in an explosion that targeted Shiite visitors in southern Baghdad, according to a security source. "The bomb exploded in Alwat al-Rashied region in al-Doura, southern Baghdad, targeting Shiite visitors, killing one and injuring ten," the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#2: At least 13 people were wounded on Wednesday night by random celebratory gunfire after Iraq's national soccer team beat North Korea 1-0 during the Asia Cup tournament in Qatar, an Interior Ministry source said.


Diyala Prv:
#1: A suicide bomber drove a car into a police headquarters on Thursday in Iraq's volatile Diyala province, killing at least three people and wounding around 30 in a third day of attacks on security forces, police said. The bomber blew up the car at the main gate of the police headquarters in the city of Baquba, 65 km (40 miles) northeast of Baghdad, two police sources said. Ghalib al-Jubouri, a police spokesman in Diyala, said the attack took place in the centre of the city near government buildings, including the police headquarters. He said one of the three killed was a traffic policeman. A police source in Baquba said at least two of the dead were policemen, while four among the wounded were also police. "Ambulances are still carrying the wounded," said Faris al-Azzawi, a spokesman for the provincial health department. He said three people were killed in the blast, and 28 were wounded.

#2: "A roadside bomb went off targeting a convoy of Shiite visitors while passing Kanaan district in Baaquba, killing a civilian and wounding ten," the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.


Karbala:
#1: A pair of car bombs blasted through security checkpoints ringing the Iraqi holy city of Karbala Thursday and killed at least 51 people, most of whom were Shiite pilgrims headed to observe yearly religious rituals. Authorities estimated as many as 183 people were wounded in the near-simultaneous blasts set off by suicide bombers driving cars packed with explosives. Ali Khamas, a pilgrim from the Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City in Baghdad, said he saw a car speeding toward one of the checkpoints, its driver refusing to stop despite warnings screamed by Iraqi soldiers.



Baiji:
#1: A roadside bomb went off near the convoy of Lieutenant Colonel Salah Mohammed, head of a police unit in Baiji, 180 km (110 miles) north of Baghdad, on Wednesday, and wounded two of his guards, police said.


Kirkuk:
#1: Two people were wounded on Wednesday night by random celebratory gunfire in Kirkuk, 250 km (155 miles) north of Baghdad, a police source said.


Mosul:
#1: “Unknown gunmen killed a civilian in front of his apartment in al-Yarmouk neighborhood, western Mosul,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#2: “Two people were wounded in a bomb explosion in al-Islah al-Zerai region, eastern Mosul,” the source added, without giving more details.

#3: Two suicide bombers were killed in a bomb blast in southwest of Mosul on Wednesday, a police source said. “Policemen opened fire on a vehicle while attempting to hit a police checkpoint in Tal Atta region, southwest of Mosul,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.



Afghanistan: "The Forgotten War"
#1: NATO and Afghan forces killed more than 10 insurgents in two days of fighting in northern Afghanistan, the alliance said Thursday. The operation in Faryab province was aimed at disrupting Taliban cells that have moved freely in the area, the statement said. The troops searched many houses without incident but were fired on from some compounds and returned fire, the statement said.

#2: No Bulgarian troops were injured in a Taliban attack on the Kandahar air base in Afghanistan, the Defence Ministry said on its website on January 20 2011. Two missiles were fired at the compound on January 19, one at 6.42pm and the second at 6.48pm Afghan time (4.12pm and 4.18pm Bulgarian time, respectively), the report said. There was no damage reported, or casualties among the personnel.

#3: At least seven persons were killed in Landikotal, Dara Adamkheil and Charsadda and three others received injuries at the hands of militants for spying against them and in cross firing incidents on Wednesday, official sources said. According to details, three dead bodies were recovered from Landi Kotal Bazaar who were killed by militants on charges of spying and supplying oil to the Nato forces stationed in Afghanistan. Law enforcement agencies officials said the dead were truck drivers. Two more persons were killed by the militants on charges of spying and threw their bodies in Bostikheil area of Dara Adamkheil. “A letter was also found with the dead bodies wherein it was the militants said that those spying for the US will meet this fate,” sources said. In Charsadda, two persons were killed and three sustained bullet injuries when two rival groups engaged themselves in a pitched battle. The injured were shifted to nearby hospital for medical treatment by the locals.