US soldiers patrol Baghdad's southern suburb of Owerij in 2003. US soldiers shot and killed four Iraqi prisoners execution-style last year to avenge the deaths of two army comrades, according testimony cited Wednesday by the New York Times. (AFP/File/Patrick Baz) From the press releases of the coalition forces, we can see that there's never a dull moment in Iraq:
1. Coalition forces in Diyala killed three terrorists, two of whom were wearing suicide vests, and detained an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq leader. The AQI suspect is allegedly responsible for bombing attacks and assassinations.
2. Soldiers found 100 blasting caps, 20 rocket-propelled grenades, two 120 mm mortar rounds, a 60 mm mortar round, two anti-tank rounds and 35 parachute grenades in a Baghdad neighborhood.
3. In the best news of the day, we captured an important Iranian-linked terrorist leader responsible for killing Americans as well as Iraqis: "Coalition forces captured a suspected senior Special Groups leader Wednesday morning during an operation at Baghdad International Airport. Intelligence sources report that the captured man is part of the most senior social and operational circles of Special Groups. Most notably, he is believed to be responsible for the planning of the June 24, 2008 bombing of the Sadr City District Advisory Council meeting, where six Iraqis, two U.S. State Department employees and two U.S. service members were killed. Ten other Iraqis were wounded in the blast. The man has been known to travel in and out of Iraq to neighboring nations including Iran and Lebanon, where it is believed he meets and helps run the Iranian-backed Special Groups in Iraq."
Anybody have an idea on this guy's identity? Note his travels to Iran and Lebanon - sounds like someone with a Hezbollah passport.
More News On Iraq
Iraq says U.S. agreed troop pullout compromise -- Washington Post
Iraq claims success in push for early US troop withdrawal -- Guardian
Fewer Marines needed in Iraq's western province -- Yahoo News/AP
Anbar Province Will Be Transferred on Monday... As RNC Convention Kicks Off -- Gateway Pundit
US soldier killed in Iraq -- AFP
Iraq bombing kills 28 at police station -- L.A. Times
US military says Baghdad bombing suspect detained -- Washington Post
2 Iraqi officials accused of aiding al-Qaida -- FOX News
Baghdad Transitions 1,000+ Sons of Iraq Into Iraqi Police -- Dvids
Mopping up al-Qaida gangs -- Eureka Reporter
IRAQ: Big changes in the Mahdi Army? -- L.A. Times
Shi'ite resistance to Sunnis threatens progress of surge -- Washington Times
Petrodollars fail to help ordinary Iraqis -- Christian Science Monitor
Top U.S. Marine sees shift from Iraq to Afghanistan -- Washington Post
Analysis: Talks remind al-Maliki of Iraq's failed deals -- USA Today
My Comment: 10 U.S. soldiers have been killed from hostile fire this month. That is the only story that has stuck in my head today.