Sunday, July 07, 2019

Violence in Iraq

In Iraq, the war continues.  Mohammed Ebraheem (IRAQI NEWS) reports, "Two Iraqi farmers were wounded Sunday in a bomb explosion in northeastern Diyala province, a security source was quoted as saying." Margaret Griffis (ANTIWAR.COM) reports on other violence today including:

Four policemen were killed, and another was wounded, when a sticky bomb exploded as their vehicle was traveling along a highway in Babil governorate.
At a checkpoint in Amiriyat al-Fallujah, gunmen killed two policemen and wounded another.
Militants killed a civilian in Mukhisa.
Three militiamen were wounded when militants attacked their post near Saidiya.


In addition, XINHUA notes,  "A U.S.-led coalition airstrike killed three Islamic State (IS) militants in the Iraqi northern province of Kirkuk on Sunday."

Meanwhile, AFP reports, "Iraq’s military announced a new operation Sunday in an attempt to secure the vast western desert leading to the Syrian border, amid fears jihadist sleeper cells were using the area to regroup.  The operation, dubbed 'Will of Victory,' began early Sunday morning and would push to clear the remote territory between the provinces of Salahaddin, Nineveh and Anbar, a statement by the military said."

Michael Jansen has long covered Iraq.  From her latest (IRISH TIMES):

 
Iraqi armed forces, paramilitary units of the Shiite-dominated Hashed al-Shaabi, tribal groups and U.S.-led coalition warplanes were all taking part, according to the statement.
Thousands of men, women and children charged with terrorism are being detained in overcrowded and degraded conditions amounting to ill-treatment in Iraq’s northern Ninevah province, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said.
The NGO calls on Baghdad to ensure humane treatment and “that there is a clear legal basis for detentions”. Detainees should be released if this does not apply and the government cannot improve detention centre conditions.
Lama Fakih, HRW acting regional director, said: “The Iraqi government urgently needs to rebuild and rehabilitate its detention facilities. Iraq has a duty to ensure that detainees are housed decently, in line with international standards.”
United Nations standards for prison conditions, called the Mandela rules, require that prisoners’ health must be safeguarded by the provision of space, heating, ventilation and sanitary installations.


The following sites updated: