Wednesday: 137 Iraqis, 3 GIs Killed; 70 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 12:25 p.m. EST, Jan. 24, 2007

U.S. forces conducted major operation along Haifa Street in Baghdad today. Dozens were killed and many were injured. Throughout the country, at least 137 Iraqis were killed or found dead and 70 were wounded. At least three U.S. servicemembers were also killed.

One soldier was killed and another two injured during an unspecified military operation today in Baghdad. Two Marines were killed in separate events in Anbar province on Tuesday. Also, a twelve-year-old boy died from wounds received during a raid conducted by U.S forces north of Baghdad. Police in Baiji reported that American forces delivered two bodies to them; the victims were killed by U.S. troops on a road between Baghdad and Mosul.

Military operations were conducted and deaths surged on Haifa Street in Baghdad today. Joint U.S./Iraqi forces killed at least 30 suspected militants during a mission to regain control of the area. Gun battles took place all day and U.S. helicopters attacked gunmen holed up in high rises. Another 37 have been reported wounded, including women and children caught in the crossfire. Thirty-five people have been detained.

Elsewhere in Baghdad, a convoy ferrying Iraq's higher education minister, Abd Dhiab al-Ajili, was attacked in Doura; gunmen killed one guard and wounded a second one. In Saidiya, gunmen wounded two Shi’ite pilgrims when they fired on their minibus. A suicide car bomber targeting a police patrol killed four policemen and wounded three civilians in the Amiriya neighborhood. Mortars fell near City Hospital; two people were killed and 20 wounded. A man was wounded when mortars fell on Baladiyat district. The body of a female, Sunni bank-employee was found at the morgue two days after her kidnapping. Mortars fell on the home of Sunni parliamentarian Adnan al-Dulaimi and . Another 33 bodies were found dumped in sevarl locations throughout the capital.

KUNA is reporting that 52 bodies have been found scattered throughout Mosul; many bore evidence of torture.

In Kut, gunmen killed an Iraqi translator who had worked with U.S. forces.

Iraqi forces battled gunmen in Suwayra; six soldiers were wounded but three more are missing.

Combined Iraqi/U.S. forces killed eight suspected militants and arrested eight more in Latifiya.

Mortars falling in Abu Saida killed one person and injured three others.

In Baquba, gunmen killed a policeman and wounded a civilian.

A civilian was gunned down in central Tikrit. A police patrol was attacked, but no casualties were reported.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis