News of the Day for Sunday, March 13, 2011

Reported Security Incidents

Basra

Bomb attack on a U.S. military convoy kills 7 civilian bystanders. A second attack produced no casualties.

Mosul

Employee of a health center is murdered by unknown persons.

Other News of the Day

A lawmaker from the Iraqiya bloc calls for a commission to investigate alleged human rights abuses by security forces in Abu Ghraib district.

Lawmakers reach a preliminary agreement to cut their own pay in an attempt to appease protesters. "The 325 legislators still would collect an additional $12,500 each month in housing and security allowances, as well as a $90,000 annual stipend. Iraq has a 15 percent unemployment rate, and the average wage of a midlevel Iraqi government employee is about $600 per month." The 15% unemployment is a serious underestimate. -- C

NYT's Michael Schmidt and Yasir Ghazi report that Iraq's women continue to be excluded from political power:

No women took part in the protracted negotiations to reach a compromise government. And despite holding a quarter of the seats in Parliament, only one woman runs a ministry: women’s affairs, a largely ceremonial department with a tiny budget and few employees.

In the previous government from 2006 to 2010, four women led ministries, and in the government from 2005 to 2006, six did, including the influential ones governing public works, refugees and communications.

“I consider it a disaster,” said Ashwaq Abbas, a female member of Parliament from the Kurdish Alliance bloc. “Democracy should also include women, and the rights of women should be developed as the democracy here develops. But what’s actually happened is that the rights of women have gotten worse over time.”

President Talabani is quoted as referring to Kirkuk as "Kurdistan's Jerusalem", angering Arab lawmakers. "Talabani, speaking in the northern Iraq Kurdish city of Sulaimaniya last week on the occasion marking the 10th anniversary of the 1991 uprising against the former regime of Saddam Hussein, termed Kirkuk as “Kurdistan’s Jerusalem,” calling on the Kurds in the province to form a “strategic Kurdish-Turkmen alliance to liberate it from terrorists and neo-occupiers.”" This is indeed a highly provocative remark, especially coming from the ostensible president of Iraq, who suggests that Iraq is not one country. -- C

Afghanistan Update

One NATO soldier killed, 3 injured by a roadside bomb in Daykundi Province. No further information is given at this time.

Four civilians killed by a roadside bomb in Kandahar Province.

Well okay then: The president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, calls upon NATO to cease military operations in Afghanistan. Really. (In the last paragraph, he is referring to Pakistan. Astonishingly, I have not seen this reported in U.S. corporate media, although Voice of America did report it.)

ASADABAD: An emotional Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Saturday urged international troops to "stop their operations in our land", his strongest criticism yet of mistaken killings of civilians.

Karzai's comments came after a week in which a relative of his was killed in a raid by foreign forces and he rejected an apology by the US commander of troops General David Petraeus for the deaths of nine children in a Nato strike. "I would like to ask Nato and the US with honour and humbleness and not with arrogance to stop their operations in our land," Karzai said in Pashto as he visited the dead children's relatives in Kunar province, eastern Afghanistan.

We are very tolerant people but now our tolerance has run out. He said international forces should go and fight this war where we have showed them (it is) over the last nine years. Isaf spokeswoman could not immediately comment.

Subel Bhandari tells the story of the town of Mazar-e Sharif, where a Tajik warlord rules. His autocratic government keeps order, and stability has led to economic growth. However, corruption, and tensions between Tajiks and the minority Pashto, are threatening stability. The Afghan government, by the way, is irrelevant here.

War News for Saturday, March 12, 2011

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from a non-combat related incident in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Friday, March 11th.

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an IED blast in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Friday, March 11th.


End operations in Afghanistan, Karzai tells NATO

Unemployment high among young veterans

Winning Hearts While Flattening Vineyards Is Rather Tricky


Reported security incidents

Baghdad:
#1: An Iraqi civilian has been killed and 2 others injured, along with 4 policemen, in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast south of Baghdad on Friday, according to a security source. “An IED blew off in southern Baghdad’s al-Rashid markets, aimed at a police patrol, killing a civilian, wounding 2 others, along with 4 policemen,” the security source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.


Najaf:
#1: A roadside bomb targeted a US patrol in the southern Iraqi city of Najaf on Saturday, according to an Iraqi security official and the American military. There were no immediate reports of casualties. "An improvised bomb targetted a US patrol in Najaf around noon today," an Iraqi security official told AFP, without giving further details. The US military said: "We can confirm that there was an IED (improvised explosive device) attack targeting US forces in Najaf. We have no reporting of casualties at this time."


Kirkuk:
#1: A car bomb wounded 20 people as it ripped through a Kurdish neighbourhood in the restive northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Friday, a police source said. "A car bomb exploded in the Kurdish neighbourhood of Rahimawa near a security station in Kirkuk and 20 people were wounded," the source said without giving details.


Mosul:
#1: POLICE say seven Iraqi soldiers have been killed in an ambush in a former al-Qaeda stronghold. The off-duty soldiers had just ended their shifts outside the northern city of Mosul when gunmen ambushed their car this morning. Two police officers said the gunmen fled after the attack. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to release the information.



Afghanistan: "The Forgotten War"
#1: A rocket hit a house in Khairdin village, some 430 kilometres southeast of Quetta, the capital of restive Baluchistan province, early on Saturday morning, killing a couple and their four children. "A man, a woman and their four children were killed when a rocket hit their house," senior police official Javed Shah told AFP. "Apparently the rocket was fired by miscreants," Shah said referring to tribal rebels who have waged an insurgency to demand more autonomy over region's natural resources like oil, gas and minerals.

#2: Separately unknown gunmen intercepted three oil tankers carrying fuel destined for Nato forces in Afghanistan, setting one of them on fire and puncturing two others causing the oil to leak, Shah said. The tankers were attacked in Bolan district, some 70km east of Quetta, but there were no casualties, he added. Local security officials confirmed both incidents and toll.

#3: In the first attack, the drones fired four missiles and hit a car in Ghureeski village close to Spinwam town near the border with Afghanistan's Khost province. The four men seated in the white car were killed on the spot and their bodies mutilated beyond recognition. There were reports that the slain men were tribal militants reportedly belonging to the adjoining South Waziristan tribal region.

#4: Almost 20 minutes after the first attack, the CIA-operated drones carried out another attack in which a double-cabin pickup truck was targeted near Jailar Village on Khaisur Road in Mir Ali subdivision. The drones, the villagers said, fired 10 missiles on the speedy pickup truck and finally hit it. The vehicle was smashed and split into pieces. The attackers didn't want to take chances and that was the reason 10 missiles were fired at just one moving target. It was not possible for the villagers to get close to the destroyed vehicle for about an hour as the drones were still hovering over the town. Later, when the spy planes disappeared for a while, the tribesmen rushed to the spot and retrieved 10 bodies from the wreckage of the vehicle.

#5: Tribesmen from the remote Dattakhel area near the Afghan border also reported seeing seven US spy planes flying over their villages. The US has once again stepped up the missile strikes in both North and South Waziristan tribal regions where the government, after a series of military operations, has finally signed peace accords with the local tribes and tribal militants.

#6: Six militants were killed in clashes with security forces in Orakzai Agency on Saturday. Sources said the militants attacked a security check post in the Kurucnki area of Orakzai Agency. The security forces retaliated and during the crossfire six militants were killed. Three security personnel also sustained injuries in the retaliatory firing.


DoD: Staff Sgt. Eric S. Trueblood

War News for Friday, March 11, 2011

The DoD is reporting a new death unreported by the military. Spc. Andrew P. Wade died from a non-combat related incident in Kunduz province, Afghanistan on Wednesday, March 9th.


Reported security incidents

Baghdad:
#1: Gunmen swooped on a Baghdad jewelry shop on Thursday in a failed heist that left four policemen and two civilians dead, an Iraqi Interior Ministry source said. The attempted robbery in the AlBindouk area of northeast Baghdad also wounded two policemen and a civilian, the source said on condition of anonymity. The gunmen escaped but without any loot.

#2: “An explosive charge exploded targeting a police vehicle patrol in al-Mashtal region, east of Baghdad, killing a cop and wounding two,” he said.


Missan Prv:
#1: The police found the body of a civilian man showing signs of having been shot in Missan province on Thursday, a local security source said. “The body, which showed signs of having been shot in the neck, was removed to a morgue,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.



Afghanistan: "The Forgotten War"
#1: A relative of Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been killed by international forces, Karzai's brother and officials said on Thursday. The president's brother, Ahmad Wali Karzai, told AFP that a relative, who he described as our father's cousin, was shot dead near his home in the family's village in southern Kandahar province by the US-led NATO force overnight. It was a mistake, Ahmad Wali Karzai said. The forces conducted an operation, he was at his home, he came out and was shot. The president was said to be extremely sad at the news, his spokesman said.

#2: Separately, police in northern Afghanistan said on Thursday that German troops based in the area had accidentally killed one woman and injured another during an exchange of fire. The incident happened in the Chahar Dara district of Kunduz province Wednesday when German troops came under attack and retaliated with gunfire, provincial police chief Abdul Rahman Sayedkhili said. German troops patrolling Chahar Dara district opened fire on civilian houses yesterday afternoon, Sayedhkhili told AFP. One woman was killed and another was injured as a result. A spokesman for German troops in Kunduz, Lieutenant Colonel Klaus Geier, said he could not confirm the death but added that an investigation has been launched. Afghan and NATO officials said they were investigating the incident.

#3: The Afghan government says a suicide bomber has killed the police chief of northern Kunduz province and two of his bodyguards. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack. Once relatively quiet, Kunduz and other parts of northern and eastern Afghanistan have seen an increase in violence in recent months. A government statement on Friday says police chief Abdul Rahman Sayedkhili was killed as he walked through the streets of Kunduz city late on Thursday. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the bombing in an e-mail. Police say another 10 people were wounded.

#4: A child and a man were injured as a blast took place near a bridge in northwest Pakistan city of Peshawar on Friday, local sources said. The explosive material was panted near a bridge, local residents said, adding several nearby shops were damaged in the blast.

#5: Earlier a bomb prematurely exploded inside a mosque in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, shortly before prayers on Friday but caused no loss of life, local media reported.


MoD: Lance Corporal Stephen McKee

DoD: Spc. Andrew P. Wade

DoD: Cpl. Loren M. Buffalo

War News for Thursday, March 10, 2011

The DoD is reporting a new death unreported by the military. Pfc. Kalin C. Johnson died from a non-combat incident somewhere in Kandahar province, Afghanistan on Tuesday, March 8th.

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an IED attack in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, March 9th.

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an IED attack in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, March 10th.


Royal Irish Regiment soldier killed in Afghanistan - This was yesterdays ISAF release.


Reported security incidents

Baghdad:
#1: A civilian man was killed in a blast from an improvised explosive device (IED) in northern Baghdad on Wednesday, a security source said. “An IED attached to a vehicle went off in the area of al-Taji, northern Baghdad, leaving its driver killed,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#2: Five civilians were wounded on Wednesday by a bomb blast in central Baghdad, according to a security source. “An explosive charge went off this afternoon near Haidar Dabel restaurant in Karadat Mariyam region, central Baghdad, injuring five civilians,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#3: A roadside bomb went off on Wednesday targeting a U.S. convoy in central Baghdad, a security source said. “The bomb exploded near the U.S. convoy in Bab al-Muaatham region near al-Midan square, central Baghdad,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “There is no word on casualties yet, but two vehicles were destroyed in the attack,” he added.

#4: One civilian was seriously wounded by a bomb explosion in Baghdad, a security source said on Wednesday. “An explosive device was detonated on Wednesday (March 9) targeting a civilian car in al-Doura region in Baghdad, injuring a citizen and damaging the car,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#5: "A roadside bomb went off on Thursday (March 10) on the highway in al-Doura region, southern Baghdad, targeting a federal police vehicle patrol, wounding four cops," the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#6: "Another bomb exploded this morning in al-Ghazaliya region, targeting a police patrol, injuring two policemen and damaging their car," he continued.

#7: "An explosive charge exploded in al-Sidiya region, southern Baghdad, near a truck carrying concrete blocks," the source said, noting that two civilians were wounded in the attack.

#8: "The fourth blast occurred in Sheikh Omar region near the Civil Defense department, where five civilian were wounded."


Mosul:
#1: Crude oil flow from Iraq's northern oil fields to Turkey's export Ceyhan terminal will remain suspended for the next four to five days following a bomb attack on the export pipeline early Wednesday, an official with the state-run North Oil Company said Thursday. "We will need four to five days to repair the damaged part of the pipeline," the official said. The line carries crude oil from Iraq's Kirkuk and Kurdish oil fields to Turkey's Ceyhan in the Mediterranean. "The flow has been suspended since early Wednesday," the official, who preferred not to be named for security reasons, confirmed. The 1,000 kilometer-long pipeline was attacked and damaged near the city of Mosul in northern Iraq.

#2: (?) An explosive charge exploded on Thursday near a pipeline carrying oil to Syria in west of Mosul, according to a security source. "An improvised explosive device went off on Thursday morning (March 10) near a pipeline carrying oil in Ain Zala region in Zamar district, northwest of Mosul," the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency, noting that the explosion damaged a nearby pipeline carrying water. "Pumping oil to Syrian did not stop, but pumping water to a village dtopped due to the explosion."


Al Anbar Prv:
#1: Two civilians were killed and two more, from the same family, were wounded on Wednesday by gunmen in southeast of Falluja, a security source said. “An armed group attacked on Wednesday (March 9) a civilian house in al-Makheirja village, southeast of Falluja, where they threw a hand grenade inside the house, killing a man and a woman and injuring two from the same family,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#2: "Unknown gunmen opened fire on a civilian in al-Shuwersat region, central al-Karma district, eastern Falluja, killing him instantly," the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#3: "Another civilian, working as a blacksmith, was killed by a sticky bomb in the industrial region, central al-Karma, eastern Falluja," he added.



Afghanistan: "The Forgotten War"
#1: A few dozen villagers shouted and protested in Afghanistan's main southern city on Thursday, accusing the police of killing five civilians overnight. Local government officials confirmed an incident in Pashmol but said it was a police operation targeting known insurgents and that the men who were killed had fired on the officers. A relative of two men who were detained in the incident overnight said that neither his relatives nor those who were killed were militants. "They were not involved in any kind of bad things," said Abdul Qadir. He said police barged into compounds and shouted for everyone to get on their knees. He was kneeling in his compound when he heard shots and then came outside to find the bodies.

#2: A suicide car bomber attack occured Wednesday night local time in Nangarhar province, east of Afghanistan, targeting the vehicles of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, according to a spokesperson of the provincial administration. "A suicide car bomber attack occurred around six PM local time, with the NATO-led ISAF vehicles as its target," Ahmed Zia Abdullazai, spokesperson of Nangarhar province told Xinhua. However, it caused no ISAF casualties except the bomber himself, Abdullazai said, adding that the incident is under investigation.

#3: At least one was killed and 14 others injured in a blast that occurred Thursday afternoon in Pakistan's southwest province of Balochistan, reported local Urdu TV channel Geo. According to the report, the blast took place around 3:40 p.m. in the Dera Murad Jamali district, east of Balochistan. A Frontier Corps patrolling vehicle happened to be passing by the site when the blast took place near a fuel station on a highway. It is not known yet whether there is any injury of security personnel.

#4: Early Thursday morning, in the neighboring district of Jafarabad, south of Dera Murad Jamali, a remote-controlled blast injured four people.

#5: Taliban militants killed two civilians for allegedly spying to government and foreign forces in Afghanistan's Nimroz province, some 790 km southwest of capital city of Kabul, police said Thursday. "Taliban rebels beheaded two innocent civilians in Khash Rod district on Wednesday," deputy provincial police chief, Mohammad Musa Rasouli told Xinhua. The insurgents abducted the ill-fated men few days ago and their beheaded bodies were found in Khash Rod district Wednesday evening, the official said.


DoD: Pfc. Kalin C. Johnson

War News for Wednesday, March 09, 2011

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an IED attack in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, March 9th.


Putting Afghan Plan Into Action Proves Difficult

Bad Weather Shuts Iraq Electricity System


Reported security incidents

Baghdad:
#1: “An IED went off near an Iraqi army convoy in New Baghdad area, southeastern Baghdad, leaving three soldiers wounded and their military vehicle damaged,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#2: “Another IED emplaced on the roadside near al-Kindi hospital intersection in central Baghdad went off, injuring a traffic policeman and a civilian and damaging some passing vehicles,” he added.

#3: “A third IED attached to a civilian vehicle in the area of al-Sayyediya went off, leaving the driver, a policeman in the rank of lt. colonel, and his wife severely injured,” the source said, adding the two were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

#4: The director of the Iraqi air force training department director was killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in eastern Baghdad on Wednesday, a security source said. “An IED went off near an Iraqi army convoy on al-Qanah street, eastern Baghdad, leaving Brig. Taha Mohammed dead,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#5: A sticky bomb attached to a car wounded a government employee in eastern Baghdad on Tuesday night, an Interior Ministry source said.

#6: Gunmen using weapons equipped with silencers killed a man in the Mashtal district of eastern Baghdad on Tuesday, an Interior Ministry source said.

#7: Gunmen killed a man with silenced guns in the Ghadir district of eastern Baghdad on Tuesday, an Interior Ministry source said.


Diyala Prv:
#1: In Iraq's eastern province of Diyala, three civilians were wounded, one of them in critical condition, when a sticky bomb attached to their car detonated near a parking lot in the provincial capital city of Baquba, some 65 km northeast of Baghdad, a police source from Diyala's operations command told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.


Abu Ghraib:
#1: In a similar incident, gunmen clad in Iraqi military uniforms raided a house in Baghdad's western neighborhood of Abu Ghraib, and stabbed a man to death.


Taji:
#1: A civilian man was killed in a blast from an improvised explosive device (IED) in northern Baghdad on Wednesday, a security source said. “An IED attached to a vehicle went off in the area of al-Taji, northern Baghdad, leaving its driver killed,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.


Hawija:
#1: A doctor has been killed when a missile fired by the US forces struck his house in Iraq's northern province of al-Tamim, a report says. US military warplanes conducted an airstrike on Sunday and targeted several residences in a village close to Hawijah town, located 282 kilometers (175 miles) north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, where they killed a doctor and detained his brother, Aswat al-Iraq news agency quoted Omar al-Juburi, a lawmaker from al-Wasat (Center) bloc as saying on Tuesday.


Kirkuk:
#1: A Katyusha rocket landed near a Kurdish security building, and wounded a Kurdish security member in southern Kirkuk, 250 km (155 miles) north of Baghdad, on Tuesday, police said.


Mosul:
#1: Three gunmen were killed just south of the northern city of Mosul after Iraqi forces opened fire on them as they were allegedly trying to plant an explosive device.

#2: According to the news website Aswat al-Iraq, an Iraqi army soldier was killed when an improvised explosive device attached to his car exploded in Mosul.

#3: Two policemen were wounded on Tuesday in a roadside bomb blast in western Mosul, according to a security source. “The bomb exploded in 17 Tamouz neighborhood, western Mosul, targeting an emergency police vehicle patrol, injuring two policemen, including a lieutenant,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#4: The commander of the 7th police contingent was wounded in an improvised explosive device blast in western Mosul city on Wednesday, according to a security source in Ninewa. “Col. Abad Etweiba was wounded when an IED blast targeted his motorcade in al-Rifai’e neighborhood, western Mosul. The attack also left one of the policemen guarding him wounded,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “Etweiba was injured by shrapnel in his leg but his condition is stable,” the source added.

#5: A civilian man was injured in a hand-grenade attack in central Mosul city on Wednesday, a security source in Ninewa said. “A gunman threw a hand-grenade on al-Hadbaa police department in the area of Bab al-Toub, central Mosul, leaving one civilian wounded,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “The gunman hurled the grenade from al-Sawafa souk (outdoor market) before escaping the site, but no casualties were reported amongst policemen,” he added.


Afghanistan: "The Forgotten War"
#1: At least five people were killed and three others injured in the second U.S. drone strike in northwestern tribal area of Pakistan on Tuesday afternoon, local media reported. According to Urdu TV ARY News, U.S. drones fired two missiles at a house in Datta Khel area of North Waziristan, a place bordering Afghanistan and is believed to be a stronghold of militants. This is the second attack in the last four hours. Earlier, a drone strike killed five people in Azam Warsak area of South Waziristan.

#2: At least 20 Nato oil supply tankers were sent back to Peshawar from Takht Baig check post in Jamrud by the political administration on Tuesday. Political administration has halted the Nato oil supplying tankers and sent them back towards Peshawar without mentioning any reason. The owners and drivers of the tankers staged protest demonstration against the administration at GT road Tarnab farm area.

War News for Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Reported security incidents

Baghdad:
#1: "An improvised explosive device went off this morning near a library in al-Houriya region, northern Baghdad, injuring two civilians," the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#2: "Another bomb exploded last night near an alcoholic beverages store in al-Saadon street, central Baghdad, wounding two civilian, who were carried to a nearby hospital for treatment," the same source said.

#3: “A mortar shell hit a house in al-Baladiyat region, eastern Baghdad, wounding two civilians,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#4: “Six mortar shells landed on the General Security headquarters of the joint forces in eastern Baghdad, with no word on casualties,” he added.


Baiji:
#1: An Iraqi official says security forces have foiled a new attack against the country's largest oil refinery. Salahuddin provincial spokesman Mohammed al-Assi says a bomb was found inside the Beiji refinery on Monday but was dismantled on time. He says an investigation was under way Tuesday.


Mosul:
#1: One civilian was killed on Monday by gunmen in eastern Mosul, according to a security source. “Unknown gunmen opened fire on a civilian near his house in al-Quds neighborhood, eastern Mosul, killing him instantly,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#2: A university professor was killed on Tuesday by gunmen in eastern Mosul, a security source said. "Unknown gunmen killed on Tuesday morning a university professor while heading to his work near his house in al-Baried neighborhood, eastern Mosul," the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. "The gunmen opened fire on him using guns with silencers," he added.


Al Anbar Prv:
#1: A young man was killed on Tuesday by gunmen in central Falluja, a police source said. "An armed group opened fire on a civilian using guns with silencers in al-Dubat neighborhood near al-Mudalal mosque, central Falluja," the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. "The young man, 18, has a father working for the Anbar provincial council," he added.



Afghanistan: "The Forgotten War"
#1: A bomb planted by suspected Islamic militants exploded at a filling station in Pakistan's central Punjab province Tuesday, killing at least 20 people and wounding 127 others, police said. "We fear the death toll may rise because the condition of some of the injured is very critical," said Aftab Cheema, regional police chief in Faisalabad, the country's textile-making capital. "It was a car bomb blast. The explosive was planted in a car. We are investigating whether a suicide bomber was involved or not," Cheema said.

#2: Afghan and NATO-led forces during night raid operations killed three Taliban insurgents and detained 14 others in Helmand province, some 555 km south of capital city of Kabul, spokesman for provincial administration said Tuesday. "Special operation units of Afghan army and international forces during two separate operations eliminated three militants and detained 14 others in Musa Qala district on Monday night," Daud Ahmadi told Xinhua.


DoD: Cpl. Jordan R. Stanton

DoD: Staff Sgt. Mark C. Wells

War News for Monday, March 07, 2011

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an IED attack in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, March 5th.


China challenges US predominance in Asia-Pacific - off topic

US plans permanent bases in Afghanistan

Robert Gates visits Afghanistan before planned troop withdrawal

Gates: US should stay involved in Afghanistan

Apologies for civilian Afghan deaths by NATO 'not enough': Karzai

Defence Minister announces troop withdrawal from Afghanistan

Baghdad Neighborhood Celebrates as a Wall Is Taken Away


Reported security incidents

Baghdad:
#1: “A mortar shell fell on a number of houses in northeast Baghdad’s Za’afaraniya Police district, wounding 7 citizens, also causing damage to the houses, whilst the wounded persons were driven to hospitals,” the security source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#2: He said that another shell fell close to west Baghdad’s al-Amel bridge, wounding 2 civilians, who were also driven to a nearby hospital for treatment.

#3: A policeman and a civilian were wounded in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in southeastern Baghdad on Monday, a security source said. “An IED blast targeted a police patrol near the Technical Institute in al-Zaafaraniya area, southeastern Baghdad, leaving one policeman and a pedestrian injured,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#4: Meanwhile, police forces seized a car bomb in al-Aadhamiya, northern Baghdad, and the bomb squad teams defused it without incident, the source said.


Kirkuk:
#1: “A combined force from the Iraqi army and police, backed by a U.S. force, raided the village of Lizaka, al-Huweija district, (65 km) southwest of Kirkuk. Armed clashes broke out between the force and people in a house, leaving a gunman and a security personnel killed,” Brig. Sarhad Qader, the director of the Kirkuk Districts Police Department (KDPD), told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.


Mosul:
#1: A policeman was shot dead near his house in eastern Mosul city on Sunday, according to a local security source in Ninewa. “Unidentified gunmen in a vehicle opened fire on a policeman who was on a leave of absence from duty near his house in Aden neighborhood, eastern Mosul, killing him instantly,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#2: Policemen found the unidentified bodies of two men east of Mosul city on Sunday, a local police source in Ninewa said.

#3: A police force found the body of a student who had been kidnapped a few days ago west of Mosul city on Monday, a security source said.



Afghanistan: "The Forgotten War"
#1: TWO people have died and 19 have been wounded, including police, in two bomb blasts in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad. The first explosion went off today in front of a mosque and, when police and locals rushed to the scene to help the wounded, a second bomb detonated, a provincial official Ahmad Zia Abdulzai told AFP. "In the blasts, two people were killed and 19 people were wounded," said Abdulzai, adding that most of the casualties were from the second explosion. The target of the blast is not known but there was a meeting at the mosque in the city's eastern edge. Another provincial official, speaking anonymously, added that pro-government religious clerics had been meeting at the mosque and they may have been the target.

#2: Nato forces in Afghanistan reportedly fired nine mortar shells into North Waziristan after their four helicopters intruded into the same area, official and tribal sources said on Sunday. The sources said that the nine mortars fell in Mir Ali tehsil, Spinwam tehsil and Titi Madakhel area at 7:00pm. There was no word about the losses because of disrupted communication system in the area. It may be added here that eight persons were killed in such an incident last month when five mortar shells were fired by the Nato forces from across the border into North Waziristan. Meanwhile, late on Saturday night four Nato choppers violated the Pakistan airspace and entered into Powara Mandi area in Miramshah, agency headquarters of North Waziristan. The Nato choppers intruded about five kilometres into Pakistan, the sources said. An official, pleading anonymity, confirmed that the Nato choppers violated the Pakistani airspace and returned after flying over the area for 10 minutes without taking any action.