Wednesday: 123 Iraqis, 2 GIs Killed; 153 Iraqis Wounded; US Helicopter Shot Down

Updated at 12:45 a.m. EST, Feb. 22, 2007

Despite the continued security crackdown, violence still rages in Iraq. At least 123 people were killed or found dead and 153 wounded in various incidents. Two GIs also lost their lives and a U.S. helicopter was shot down.

Another U.S. soldier was killed on Tuesday in Anbar province, and a second soldier was killed by small arms fire in Baghdad. The U.S. military also reported that a Black Hawk helicopter was shot down resulting in no injuries. Also, the military updated the number of wounded to 29 in a Monday incident in Tarmiya.

An American working as a private security contractor was injured Monday night during a mortar attack in Baghdad.

The Iraqi army killed three gunmen and arrested 28 others in Baghdad. In Diyala and Anbar provinces, Coalition forces killed seven gunmen and detained 12 more.

In Baghdad explosions continued to rock the city. At least four people were killed and seven wounded when a car bomb exploded outside a Sadr City restaurant; some sources place the number of wounded much higher. In Bayaa, a car bomb that contained chlorine gas canisters as well as explosives killed three people and wounded or sickened 55 others. Five people were killed and 10 injured by mortars, also in Bayaa. Mortars killed at least two people and injured nine others in a residential area. A roadside bomb targeting a police patrol in southern Baghdad killed one policeman and wounded three more. Two more car bombs targeting security forces exploded but resulted in no reported injuries.

Also in the capital, seven bodies were discovered dumped together in the Ghazaliya neighborhood. Another 25 bodies were found scattered in the capital on Tuesday, and 20 more bodies were discovered today.

In Kirkuk, a roadside bomb wounded 10 people. Nine other people were wounded by a pair of roadside bombs at a bus terminal.

At a police checkpoint near a market and shrine in Najaf, a suicide car bomb killed 16 and wounded 38 others.

Eight bodies, including those belonging to three policemen, were found in Mosul.

Four Iraqi soldiers were killed and nine wounded in Hawija as they were trying to dismantle a bomb.

Mortars fell on al-Abara killing one and wounding three others.

Seventeen civilians were executed in al-Shah by men who raided their homes while wearing military uniforms.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis