Sunday: 7 GIs, 1 South Korean, 97 Iraqis Killed; 94 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 12:44 a.m. EDT, May 21, 2007

Today in Iraq, the U.S. military reported that seven U.S. servicemembers lost their lives in separate incidents. At least 97 Iraqis were also killed or found dead and another 94 Iraqis were wounded. A South Korean soldier was also killed. Meanwhile, at least six British soldiers were wounded during explosions in Basra.

Six MND-B soldiers were killed during a roadside bomb blast in western Baghdad yesterday; an Iraqi translator was also killed. In a separate incident, one 13SC(E) soldier was killed and two more wounded when a roadside bomb in Diwaniya blasted their vehicle.

A South Korean soldier was found dead inside a barbershop at a South Korean military camp. There is no evidence of hostile fighting. His is the first death for the country.

British forces conducting a raid in Basra came engaged a group of Mahdi Army militants. During clashes, two bombs were detonated, and at least six Britons were wounded.

U.S. forces killed 16 gunmen in Baghdad, Garma and in Anbar province. Also, a man believed to be behind the assualt on U.S. soldiers in Kerbala was killed.

In Baghdad, a leading member of the Iraqi National Accord was assassinated on Friday; the death was previously unreported. An az-Zaman reporter was found dead in al-Shurta al-Rabia'a. In the Binouk area, pilot Major Dhia H.Jasim was killed while driving in his car. And, a Chaldean priest was kidnapped. Two people were killed and 10 wounded when a bomb exploded under a parked car near the Zahraa shrine in Bab al-Sharji. A separate car bomb in Ur wounded five people. In a commercial area of town, a mortar killed one and wounded three. In the Adiel neighborhood, a suicide car bomber killed one and injured four at an army headquarters. Another suicide bomber attacked a post in Jamiya, killing one soldier and injuring two more. Also, 24 dumped bodies were recovered.

In Ramadi, a suicide tanker truck exploded at a checkpoint, killing 11 people and injuring 22 others. Thirty others were treated for respiratory problems associated with chlorine gas.

Seven bodies bearing gunshot wounds to the head were discovered in Samara.

In Mosul, four bodies were found on Saturday; one was decapitated.

During clashes between militia and combined U.S.-Iraqi forces in Kut, six people were killed. Five bodies were pulled out of the Tigris; one was decapitated.

The body of a 12-year old boy was found dumped in Shurqat.

In Touz, a body was recovered.

Near al-Safra, gunmen blew up an oil pipeline after attacking the security force protecting it. One commander was wounded.

A roadside bomb near Sulaimaniyah wounded Sheikh Amid Salih and his brother.

Three more people were reported killed after yesterday’s clashing in Diwaniya.

In Kirkuk, 38 innocent detainees were released. An Iraqi army soldier was wounded during clashes outside of town.

A truck convoy was attacked at Sawajin village. Four drivers were killed and 10 more injured.

Iyad al-Alwani, a senior member in the Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party, was killed in Fallujah.

The bodies of three Iraqi soldiers were puled from the al-Maleh River at Suwayra.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis