Sunday: 2 GIs, 66 Iraqis Killed; 63 Wounded

Updated at 11:58 p.m. EDT, July 29, 2007

Most of the country is celebrating the Iraqi soccer team’s championship win in the Asian Cup; however, security forces are bracing for what may be an excuse for extra violence. Several cities have car curfews in place. In the latest round of attacks, 66 Iraqis were killed and 63 were wounded. Also, two American servicemembers were killed in separate events today.

An MND-B soldier was killed north of Baghdad during a small arms attack. During combat operations in eastern Baghdad, another MND-B soldier was killed.

In Baghdad, 17 unidentified bodies were recovered. Three people were wounded during a roadside bombing in Bayaa. A mortar attack left three guards injured near the abandoned French Embassy in central Baghdad. Two men who were driving a car packed with explosives were arrested and accused of targeting soccer fans in Zayouna. A roadside bomb, also in Zayouna, killed one and injured four people. A rocket attack in Zafaraniyah harmed no one. No injuries were reported during a roadside bombings in Baladiyat and Fudhaliya. In Saidiya, a suicide bomber was killed by police before he could detonate his cargo. Also, authorities believe that two people were killed and 40 were wounded by celebratory gunfire.

A pair of explosive devices in a Balad Ruz marketplace killed three people and injured 25 others, including women and children.

In a small village near Tuz Khormato, seven people were killed and six wounded during a drive-by shooting last night. Also, six people were killed and a Turkmani Front politician was wounded during an armed attack on the politician’s home.

Gunmen killed a policeman and wounded two others in Fallujah.

A mortar injured five people in a residential section of Kirkuk.

Gunmen killed a policeman in Kut. Five people were killed and 16 wounded in an unspecified attack.

In Basra, gunmen blew up the Lion of Babylon statue, which was carved in the1920s. British forces killed one gunman and arrested another last night.

U.S. forces killed eight suspects and detained 22 others in several cities, while Iraqi forces arrested 44 more.

Six people were killed and another wounded in a mortar attack in Balad.

In Baiji, one soldier was killed and two more injured during a roadside bomb attack last night.

A tomb belonging to the Prophet Daniel was destroyed in Wajihiya.

In nearby Bihbisa, gunmen killed three, kidnapped five others, and destroyed almost a dozen homes.

Three policemen were killed and three more were wounded when they passed a roadside bomb in Deli Abass.

Gunmen killed a civilian and a policemen in separate incidents in Behrz.

A dead body was found in Ba'quba.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis