Incidents Reports From Irak May 31st 2007 Summarised From Arabic
Summary:
The fierce inter-factional fighting in west Baghdad appears to have died down for the moment. 29 bodies were discovered in Baghdad. The Americans deny having fired from the air in Sadr city despite clear photograph evidence of their having done and the fact that funerals of the victims took place on Thursday. 122 American soldiers were killed during May. The new security plan for Fallujah got off to a shaky start when a suicide bomber killed 30 police volunteers and wounded 20 others. 14 unidentified bodies were found North of the city of Kirkuk. In Basrah Major General Rashid Flaya outlined findings of rampant forms of financial and administrative corruption in the security services set up with much fanfare by the British he said that several unauthorised units were discovered and that it was possible that the “new” services would have to be disbanded. 20 civilians were wounded in clashes near al-Mafriq. 7 people were killed at a fake checkpoint in Al Khalis.
Khaled
Ali Ibn Hussayn
Saba Ali
Baghdad
On Thursday in Baghdad 29 bodies of unidentified people killed in mysterious circumstances were found in different areas. 21 bodies were found in various areas of Karkh and the remaining 8 in Rasafa.
Bodies found in Karkh:
- 4 in Amil
- 4 in Bayaa
- 3 in Dora
- 2 in Jihad
- 2 in Saidiya
- 2 in Hurriyah
- 1 in Jamiyah
- 1 in Yarmouk
Bodies found in Rasafa :
- 4 in Al-Fadhil
- 2 in Sadr city
- 2 in Ur
(Source:العثور على 29 جثة مجهولة الهوية في بغداد )
Comment and Analysis:
Al-Ameriya has long been under the control of several armed groups believed to be active in the al-Ashreen (1920) Revolution Brigades and the Islamic army (the so-called Islamic State of Irak) and elements of loyal to al-Qaeda. These groups have dominated the area and cleared it of any presence of greenzone government forces ( Source: اصوات العراق - توقف القتال في العامرية وتزايد التحشيدات الأمريكية ).
American occupation forces move around with difficulty and only in strength.
The fighting is further confirmation of the many reports and analyses indicating a rancorous split amongst these groups. (Source: جريدة الغد ) (Source: كلمة أمير المؤمنين أبي عمر البغدادي ( حصــاد السنين بدولة الموحدين ) ::مفرّغة:: - منتديات الـــفردوس الجهاديــــــــة) (Source: دار الحياة)
It has taken the Americans two days to cordon and enter the district in force and get the fighting under control.
The last phase of a failed occupation is of repeated battles for control of the capital and fighting amongst disparate resistance groups as they concentrate on ensuring their strategic position after the invader withdraws by attacking their rivals.
Fierce fighting in al-Ameriya district
The widespread fighting between armed groups in al-Ameriya district of western Baghdad seems to be dieing down after the deployment of American occupation troops and tanks in the district. ( Source: اصوات العراق - توقف القتال في العامرية وتزايد التحشيدات الأمريكية ) Fighting erupted on Wednesday and continued today.
Residents reported by telephone today Thursday that markets and shops were closed and the streets were empty of cars completely
The fighting was particularly fierce on the main streets, (al-Amal al-Shaabi, al-Munathama, and al-Markaz). An eyewitness said that the preparatory school was being used as a redoubt by one group and came under both gun attack and mortar bombardment. ( Source: اصوات العراق - توقف القتال في العامرية وتزايد التحشيدات الأمريكية ) and Source:( اصوات العراق - شهود: معارك عنيفة ومستمرة بين الجماعات المسلحة في العامرية ) Eyewitnesses’ reports spoke of seeing many dead bodies lying in the street near the police station and of appeals from loudspeakers in mosques calling for the cessation of hostilities. Source:( اصوات العراق - شهود: معارك عنيفة ومستمرة بين الجماعات المسلحة في العامرية ) Further eyewitness reports spoke of seeing masked gunmen arrive in force over a two day period to back up their comrades despite attempts at cordoning off the area. Source: (اصوات العراق - شهود: معارك عنيفة ومستمرة بين الجماعات المسلحة في العامرية )
Scenes From An Iraki Childhood
10-year-old Ibtisan Abdullah’s father was killed, by a missile fired from an American helicopter during an early morning U.S. airstrike, on Sadr city Thursday, May 31, 2007.
According to local police the U.S. military helicopter hit both a house and car killing two elderly people sleeping on the roof of their home.
The elderly man who is being helped after collapsing in sorrow, after her fathers funeral is her uncle.
Sadr City:
Troops from the American invader army in Irak raided Sheikh Abdel Zahra al-Suidi’s home in Sadr city at dawn today. Sheikh al-Suidi heads Moqtada al-Sadr’s office in Sadr city. During the raid the Americans took away some furniture and computers from the house which was empty at the time.
Sadr city residents say that there is intense American activity in Sadr City since five Britons were kidnapped from the Finance Ministry on Tuesday. According to eyewitnesses American military forces have increased their search and inspection activities at the entrances to Sadr City, and have greatly increased both their military patrols of most neighbourhoods in the city, and air activity over the city.( Source:اصوات العراق - القوات الامريكية تقتحم منزل مدير مكتب الصدر في بغداد )
The Americans and the greenzone government say that they suspect the Sadrists of being involved in the abduction of the 5 Britons which was carried out on Tuesday by gunmen clad in Iraki police uniform and using “police-like” vehicles, badges, and paperwork. The gunmen entered the Iraqi Finance Ministry building on Tuesday and took a computer expert and his four bodyguards.The abducted Britons were in Irak under contract with the U.S. government.
The Sadrists angrily deny involvement in the abduction.
Occupation casualties (1):
The American occupation army in Irak announced today that 4 of their soldiers were killed. 2 soldiers and a marine were killed in combat operations and one was killed in what the Americans describe as a “non-combat” incident. The killing of the four soldiers announced today, brings the total killings of members of the American invasion forces since the invasion led by the United States in March in March 2003 until now to 3471 dead according to official American data.
Occupation casualties (2):
Of those 3471 American soldiers killed in Irak 120 were killed during the month of May 2007 and 104 were killed during the month of April 2007 , (Source: اصوات العراق - مقتل أربعة أمريكيين يرفع خسائر آيار إلى 120 جنديا )
Late Update:
The American army announced a further two deaths. Six soldiers were killed and ten others wounded during military operations in Iraq during the past few days, The total number of Americans killed in Iraq during May is now 122 rather than 120 dead. Source: ( اصوات العراق - ارتفاع عدد القتلى الامريكيين في العراق خلال ايار إلى 122جنديا )
Refugees - Ministry of Migration and Displacement Offices to open in Iran, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon
The green zone government ministry Ministry of Migration and displacement will open over the next two days a special office in Iran in order to coordinate with the Iranian government their help to the more than 45 thousand Iraki citizens who are refugees there. Offices and/or coordination measures are also to planned in:
- Syria, which is home to more than a million Iraqi citizens who have fled their homes.
- Jordan which has at least we have more than 650 thousand Iraki refugees.
- Egypt which has at least 80 thousand Iraki refugees.
- Lebanon which has at least 45 thousand Iraki refugees.
- Kuwait which has at least 30 thousand Iraki refugees.
- And Turkey which also has at least 30 thousand Iraki refugees.
Source: ( اصوات العراق - وزير المهجرين : افتتاح مكتب لشؤون العراقيين في ايران خلال اليومين المقبلين )
[Readers: should note that these are green zone government figures - the real totals are generally held to be much higher - markfromireland]
Allawi’s Defense Minister Sentenced to 7 Years for Corruption
Hazem Shaalan the London small businessman who was defense minister in Neo-con love object Iyad Allawi’s notoriously corrupt “interim government” was sentenced in absentia to 7 years imprisonment for …. corruption.
During Shaalan’s tenure, the defense ministry is alleged to have spent about $1.3 billion on military equipment, most of which was inappropriate, out of date and bought using middlemen.
Source: ( المحكمة الجنائية تصدر حكما غيابيا بالسجن 7 سنوات على وزير الدفاع العراقي الاسبق )
[ He also bought tanks from the Polish government the engines of which were either rusted solid missing and helicopters incapable of flying. - markfromireland]
Incident Reports From The Governorates
These are just the most significant incidents.
Al Anbar Governorate
In Fallujah a new “security plan” is being implemented by green zone government police and soldiers from the American army who have invaded and are occupying Irak.
The plan aims to undermine the movement of armed men in the city and allow the invaders to respond to attacks on American invader forces and their green zone government underlings by separating all the districts of Fallujah. They aim to achieve this by placing barriers between each district and using green zone government Iraqi police to control movement at the entrances of each neighbourhoods.
Reports from residents say the streets of the city of Fallujah seem completely empty except for police patrols that most inhabitants of the town have stayed in homes and that government departments, shops, and markets are all closed.
(Source: اصوات العراق - الشرطة العراقية تنفذ خطة امنية في مدينة الفلوجة )
Briefing: Al-Shurta police recruitment centre bombing
This district is a “hot” zone in Fallujah. The police have been attacked there repeatedly.
As we have reported repeatedly the Americans and their green zone government allies have recently launched several recruitment drives in Fallujah and its outlying areas.
The drives are in the hope of attracting volunteers for the green zone government police and army and are predicated on the the moves against fighters from such groups as the so-called Islamic State of Irak by local tribes who see them as damaging to their control of the governorate and also hindering their chance at a getting a ”clear shot” at the American occupation forces.
During such a drive the Americans or their green zone government allies enter a neighbourhood in force. They drive round announcing over loud speakers that a recruitment drive will be held at such-and-such a place, at at such-and-such a time, and hand out flyers, and paste notices on walls inviting residents to attend the drive.
That such practices are an open invitation for the drive to be attacked should not need saying.
Today’s massacre is hardly a good advertisement for the “security plan” reported immediately above.
Saba Ali
30 Police Volunteers Killed 20 wounded in Al-Shurta
A suicide bomber - reportedly a teenage boy, blew himself up in the middle of a crowd of volunteers for the green zone government police at the Al-Shurta police recruitment centre in Fallujah. Aswat Al Iraq’s report quotes an informant in the Fallujah police as saying:
“The bomber carrying a belt of explosives blew himself up amid a crowd of volunteers at half past one on Thursday afternoon at a center for recruiting Iraqi police forces in the Central police district Fallujah.”
Their informant added that
“30 volunteers were killed while 20 others were wounded by the explosion.”
and that the:
“recruitment center was severely damaged after the blast.”
The death toll is likely to increase because many of the wounded are in a critical condition. Source:( اصوات العراق - مقتل وإصابة 50 بهجوم إنتحاري على مركز تجنيد للشرطة في الفلوجة )
The bodies of two brothers have been discovered in the Golan district of Fallujah. Both had been tortured and shot and their bodies dumped.
(Source: اصوات العراق - الشرطة العراقية تنفذ خطة امنية في مدينة الفلوجة )
At-Ta’mim (Kirkuk) Governorate
In Kirkuk:
- Four people, including two green zone government soldiers were injured by an explosive device on a green zone government Army patrol near the Siiuf roundabout in Arafa in northern Kirkuk.
- Two civilians were were wounded in an armed attack by a group of armed men who fired on pedestrians in the downtown shopping district of Tisaeen.
- 14 unidentified bodies north of the city of Kirkuk. The unidentified corpses of 12 males and two females were buried in the the cemetery allocated for the burial of unidentified corpses.
Source: اصوات العراق - إصابة ستة بينهم عنصران من الجيش ودفن 14 جثة في كركوك
Basrah Governorate
In Basrah an investigative commission under Major General Rashid Flaya outlined findings of rampant forms of financial and administrative corruption in the security services in Basrah. According to his statement today these corrupt operations were concentrated in:
- The department of traffic.
- The river police
- The border police
His investigation is still going on to uncover the scale of the corruption. He said that several unauthorised units were discovered and that it was possible that the “new” services* would be abolished as they were ineffective and had not improved the security in the governorate. Source: اصوات العراق - عمليات فساد اداري ومالي في الاجهزة الامنية في البصرة *(set up by the British 8 months ago)
Green zone government forces claimed today that they have successfully detained a gang consisting of 33 members responsible for kidnappings and sabotage. Source:( اصوات العراق - الجيش العراقي يلقي القبض على عصابة للخطف والتسليب في البصرة)
A British patrol was bombed North of Basrah - no casualties. Both British bases were shelled - again no casualties.
Source:( اصوات العراق - إنفجار عبوة ناسفة على دورية بريطانية في لبصرة )
Diyala Governorate
In Baquba 20 civilians were wounded in clashes that took place took place this afternoon between gunmen resisting the American invasion of Irak and American forces. Fighting broke out when gunmen opened fire on American troops near al-Mafriq in the north of Baqubah. Source: اصوات العراق - إصابة 20 مدنيا في اشتباكات بين مسلحين وقوات امريكية في بعقوبة
Gunmen killed seven civilians at a fake checkpoint in Al-Khalis and dumped their bodies on the street. Source: اصوات العراق - مقتل سبعة مدنيين على أيدي مسلحين في الخالص
The blindfolded, gagged, and bound bodies of 4 peasant farmers with multiple gunshot wounds and who had been tortured were discovered in Ulaybat village (a little north of Al Khalis. ) They had been shot and dumped some days before they were found “because of the strong odor.”
Also in the same report gunmen attacked shoppers in the main market of the town killing one civilian.
The report points out that the severity of violence in Al Khalis and outlying villages Khalis District, has, in recent weeks,left dozens of civilians dead and wounded … Despite the heavy presence of security forces. Khalis is 55 km north of the capital Baghdad. Source:( اصوات العراق - العثور على أربع جثث لفلاحين ومقتل مدني في الخالص )
Ninawa Governorate
This 6-year-old boy at a hospital in Baqubah was once of four civilians wounded when gunmen in two cars attacked a police station Thursday May 31st 2007 one police officer was killed and and three other police wounded.
Four green zone government police officers were injured Thursday, when an explosive device exploded as their patrol passed by it in the north east of Mosul. Source: ( اصوات العراق - إصابة أربعة من الشرطة بإنفجار عبوة في الموصل ) A zone government army captain was killed and a soldier was injured in a bomb explosion in Tal Afar. Source: ( اصوات العراق - مقتل ضابط وجرح جندي بانفجار عبوة في تلعفر ) In Tal Afar another roadside bomb that exploded between Senjar and Talafar districts wounded 4 green zone government troops. Source:( اصوات العراق - إصابة أربعة من الشرطة بإنفجار ناسفة في تلعفر )
Late News:
An attack by gunmen on police in Mosul left one policeman dead and another wounded.
Source: (اصوات العراق - مقتل شرطي و جرح آخر في الموصل)
Wasit Governorate
Three unidentified corpses were taken from the river in Suwayrah in Wasit governorate on Thursday morning. All were male all had been tortured and had multiple gunshot wounds. On Tuesday five bodies were recovered including two dead bodies without heads. The town now has a special graveyard set aside for burying such corpses. The town of Suwayrah is 135 km north-west of Kut, Wasit’s capital.
Source:( اصوات العراق - إنتشال ثلاث جثث مجهولة من نهر المالح في واسط )
A joint green zone government army and U.S. force, supported by U.S. choppers, started a 2 hour security sweep this morning in al-Shuhadaa and Damouk (Kut city) ended in the detention of 25 suspected fighters and the seizure of some arms and ammunition.
Source: ( اعتقال 25 مشتبها بهم في عملية عسكرية في واسط ) [Note: the report’s informant did not specify the quantities of arms and ammunition seized or the target status of those detained. This generally means that the operational result is considered disappointing. ]
Indexed under: Al Anbar (Governorate), Baghdad, Baghdad Hospitals, Basrah, Bombings, Children, Disputed Areas, Fallujah, Follow Up, Iran, Joint Postings, Jordan, Kirkuk, Kut, Lebanon, Mosul, Ninawa (Governorate), Poverty, Refugees, Sadr City, Syria, Tal Afar, Turkey, Wasit, Women and Children
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