Thursday: 70 Iraqis, 2 GIs Killed; 30 Iraqis, 3 GIs Wounded

Updated at 12:35 a.m. EST, Feb. 23, 2007

At least 70 Iraqis were reported killed today and another 30 wounded in various incidents around the country. Also, the U.S. military reported that an American soldier was shot dead in Baghdad on Tuesday, and today in Diwaniyah one soldier was killed and three others wounded when their Humvee struck a roadside bomb.

Heavy clashes between U.S. forces and militants took place in Ramadi; twelve gunmen were killed but some sources report that as many as 26 were killed, including women and children. Clashes erupted on the outskirts of Baghdad as well. U.S. forces also killed three militants in Taji. The British bases in Basra came under rocket attack, but no casualties were reported.

In Tal Afar, the U.S. military updated the casualties from an incident on Monday. Four people were killed, including a twelve-year-old, and five wounded when police were searching through two-booby trapped houses. Police killed a suspect and wounded two more during the searches. The death of a policeman had already been reported.

In Baghdad, a mortar attack injured four people in the Adil neighborhood. In a separate mortar attack in the Amil district, one person was killed and three wounded. Two people were injured when a roadside bomb exploded underneath their bus in the Iskan area. Over in the Yarmouk district, a woman was injured when a roadside bomb targeting a police patrol blasted her instead. In the Amil district, two policemen were injured during clashes with gunmen. Also 14 bodies were discovered scattered through several neighborhoods.

Two police officers were killed and nine more wounded when gunmen attacked a police station in Baiji.

Five bodies were found dumped in Kirkuk.

Two bodies were found in Mahaweel.

A gunshot-riddled body was recovered from the Euphrates at Hilla.

A body was fished out of the Tigris at Khalis. An Iraqi soldier was wounded by a sniper’s bullet.

In Kut, a land mine took the life of a twelve-year-old boy, and two bodies were found.

Two bodies were found in Fallujah.

In Mosul, three people were gunned down.

A "factory" for making car bombs was raided by U.S forces; troops found chlorine canisters and fertilizer material as well as explosives.

Militants have vowed to increase attacks in revenge for several alleged rapes and attempted rapes of Iraqi women. An American soldier was sentenced 100 years for rape and murder last year in Mahmudiya.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis