War News for Tuesday, May 12, 2009

MNF-Iraq is reporting the death of a Multi-National Division - South soldier in a roadside bombing in Basra Province on Sunday, May 10th.

The DoD is reporting a new death previously unreported by the military. Staff Sgt. Randy S. Agno died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Friday, May 8th, from a non-combat related incident at Forward Operating Base Olsen in Samarra, Iraq on Monday, April 27th.


Airpower Summary for May 8:

Airpower Summary for May 9:

Airpower Summary for May 10:

Iraq says Kurdistan oil contracts illegal:

Bomb kills 1 soldier, wounds 2 in southeastern Turkey:

Pakistan army: 1.3 million fled fighting in NW:

Commander’s Ouster Is Tied to Shift in Afghan War:


Reported Security incidents:

Baghdad:
#1: A mortar round hit the Green Zone at 5 a.m. Monday. No casualties were reported.


Taji:
#1: A roadside bomb targeted the Head of Sahwa in Taji area, northern Baghdad killing him and injuring two civilians who were with him in the car. Some reports said that they were his sons but Iraqi Police did not confirm it.


Diyala Prv:
Khanaqin:
#1: Six Iraqi servicemen on Tuesday were wounded when an improvised explosive device (IED) targeted their patrol vehicle near Baaquba city, according to a local security source. “Today, an explosive device targeted an Iraqi army infantry patrol in Naft Khana area of Khanaqin district (155 km northeast of Baaquba), wounding six patrolmen,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

A roadside bomb targeted an Iraqi Army foot patrol in the town of Naft Khana 120 km to the northeast of Baquba at 1 p.m. Tuesday injuring six servicemen, three of whom are in a critical condition.

Mandili:
#1: The body of a 13 year old girl who was kidnapped two days ago in the town of Mendili was found by Iraqi Police Tuesday. She had been shot several times. No ransom had been demanded.


Tikrit:
#1: Fires on Tuesday ate U.S. fuel tanker when a roadside bomb targeted a U.S. convoy north of Tikrit city, said a source from Salah al-Din police. “The attack took place on the highway, 5 km north of Tikrit,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “The destiny of the tanker’s driver is unknown,” he said.The U.S. forces have not commented yet on this issue.


Kirkuk:
#1: A suicide bomber aboard a small pick-up truck slammed into an Iraqi police patrol in the tense northern city of Kirkuk on Tuesday, killing six people and injuring 14, police said. The attack in the southern district of the oil rich city killed at least three policemen while three policemen were also among the injured, local police major Salam Zangana said.

#2: A car bomb went off on Monday targeting a police vehicle patrol in southern Kirkuk, killing two civilians and injuring eight, the chief of the Kirkuk police said. “A car crammed with explosives, parked near al-Adl mosque in al-Asra neighborhood in southern Kirkuk, went off, killing two civilians and injuring eight, including three policemen,” General Tourhan Abdulrahman told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.


Mosul:
#1: A former army officer was killed on Monday by unknown gunmen in northeastern Mosul, a security source said. “Unknown gunmen killed a candidate of al-Hadbaa list of the recent local elections when they shot him in al-Muthanna neighborhood in northeastern Mosul,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “The victim, Rakan Aziz, a former army brigadier, took part in the recent local elections held last January in he province, but did nit succeed,” he added, noting that he was assassinated while he was leaving al-Arqam mosque on Monday afternoon (May 11).

#2: Gunmen killed a policeman in Suq Al-Maash neighborhood in Mosul while he was in his off-duty.

#3: Gunmen on foot opened fire upon the guards of the Governorate building in Ghazi Street, central Mosul Monday morning killing one guard and injuring another while they were on duty.



Afghanistan: "The Forgotten War"
#1: Army helicopters dropped Pakistani commandos behind Taliban lines in the Swat Valley on Tuesday as part of a widening offensive against the militants. Choppers inserted troops into the remote Piochar area in the upper reaches of the valley, an army statement said. Officials identified it as the rear-base of an estimated 4,000 Taliban militants also entrenched in Swat's main towns. It is seen as possible hiding place of Swat Taliban chief Maulana Fazlullah.A military spokesman declined to give details of the Piochar assault, but a senior government official expressed optimism that the battle for Swat might prove short.

#2: while U.S. missiles killed eight people in an attack on a suspected insurgent hide-out elsewhere in the northwest. The missile strike destroyed a house in Sara Khora, a village in the South Waziristan tribal region, Pakistani security officials said. The identities of those killed were not immediately known.Two security officials, citing initial intelligence reports, said eight people died. They said agents on the ground were still trying to discover the identities of the victims. The officials asked for anonymity because they are not authorized to speak openly to the media.

#3: Suicide bombers have attacked two government buildings in eastern Afghanistan, at least one of which had U.S. forces inside. Officials said at least four people were killed in Tuesday's attack. Afghan officials say troops fired on the attackers, who did not manage to get inside the buildings in the city of Khost. Interior Ministry spokesman Zemeri Bashary says the assailants attacked the provincial governor's office and the Khost province municipal building.

Six people have been killed in suicide attacks on two government buildings in the city of Khost in eastern Afghanistan, government officials say. Suicide bombers simultaneously attacked the offices of the provincial governor and municipal administration, interior ministry spokesman Zemeri Bashary said.

State television said security forces had surrounded the municipal administrative building with Taliban fighters inside. The building was on fire following a series of explosions, several officials who asked not to be identified said. Interior ministry spokesman Zemaray Bashary said one suicide bomber was killed by police as he tried to break through the gate of the headquarters of Khost's governor in a vehicle.

Teams of suicide bombers and insurgents attacked two government buildings in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, sparking running gun battles in a major Afghan city, officials said. Armed insurgents took government workers hostage and ambushed an American quick-reaction force, wounding one US soldier. At least four security forces, two civilians and an unknown number of militants were killed in the attack, which began around 10 am and raged for hours, a doctor said.

#4: Nine Taliban insurgents were killed as they came in contact with police in the restive Helmand province south of Afghanistan, provincial police chief Assadullah Shirzad said Tuesday. "Taliban rebels stormed police checkpoints in Nad Ali district Monday and police returned fire killing nine rebels on the spot," Shirzad told Xinhua. One police was killed and another sustained injuries in the firefight lasted for a while, he further said.

#5: A roadside bomb killed two employees of a construction company in southern Zabul province on Tuesday, the Interior Ministry said.