Saturday: 6 GIs Killed, More Missing; 40 Iraqis Killed, 24 Wounded

Updated at 11:30 p.m. EDT, May 12, 2007

Although Saturday was packed with violent activity, few casualties were produced. Overall, 40 Iraqis were killed and 24 wounded. However, one of the deadliest ground attacks on American soldiers occurred in Mahmudiya. At least four GIs and as many as 7 were killed in an early morning attack. Another two American servicemembers were also reported killed in separate incidents.

The U.S. military reported that a patrol consisting of seven American soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter was ambushed. At least five are dead, and the other three are missing. It was not revealed whether the interpreter was among the dead or the missing. An injured Iraqi was later found and he confessed to having participated in the attack.

Also, a Marine was reported killed Thursday in Anbar province, while an MP was killed in Iskandariya yesterday. And, an Australian patrol struck a roadside bomb, but no casualties were reported.

In Baghdad, two explosions occurred in the Green Zone. The son of Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi was seriously injured in a roadside bombing in Adhamiya, at least two others were killed. Two roadside bombs targeted U.S. patrols in the Saidiya and Baladiyat neighborhoods, but no casualties were reported. A bomb in Amiriya caused no casualties. A roadside bomb in the Abu Ghraib area left one Iraqi soldier injured. Last night, a bombing in northeastern Baghdad left one dead and five injured. Also, police recovered 17 dumped bodies scattered in several locations.

Three bodies were found near Latifiya.

In Fallujah, gunmen killed a former colonel, who had served during the Saddam regime. Four armed groups said they would combine to form the "Jihad and Reforms" group.

A police officer was gunned down in Diwaniyah.

A gunman was killed while driving a truck bomb near a petrol station in Mada’en. A large weapons cache was found in town. A resident was injured by mortar fire. Also, two people were killed and five wounded when a parked car blew up.

Thursday night, a former Iraqi national team soccer player was injured during an assassination attempt in Basra. A civilian was injured in a bombing west of town.

Mortars showered the Iraqi National Guard headquarters in Hibhib.

A Samarra home belonging to the municipality chairman’s brother was blown up after the residents were told to flee.

Hundreds of people staged a demonstration in Baquba demanding better security. Meanwhile, a Shi’ite shrine was blown up. One body was recovered. Gunmen attacked and injured a man in the suburbs. Also, two gunmen were killed and one arrested during a clash that followed an attempted kidnapping.

In Muqdadiyah, the imam and preacher of a mosque were arrested during a raid conducted by Iraqi policemen.

In Sadr City, three people were detained during a raid intended to break an arms-smuggling network.

The secretary of the Islamic Medical Society was gunned down outside his Mosul clinic.

A car bomb in Diyala province killed two and wounded three others. Thirty suspects were detained during a joint U.S.-Iraq raid. An Iraqi legislator suggested that tribal clans organize to defend the province because government support would be slow in coming.

An Iraqi Humvee was damaged in a roadside bombing in Haditha.

In Karbala, a suspected al-Qaeda operative was arrested.

No casualties were reported when gunmen blew up a home in Latifiya.

Two people were killed and three injured in a Wajihiya area bombing.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis