Thursday: 2GIs, 56 Iraqis Killed; 36 Iraqis Wounded; Several Mosques Attacked

Updated at 1:25 a.m. EDT, June 15, 2007

Thanks to increased security presence and curfews, violence was kept somewhat in check following yesterday’s bombing of the Golden Mosque. However, at least 56 Iraqis were killed and 34 were wounded anyway. A number of mosques have also been damaged or destroyed. Also, one American soldier was killed yesterday in Baquba after his unit was attacked by RPGs, small arms fire, and anti-tank mines in Baghdad. Another GI was killed in a small arms attack in Diyala province.

The body of a Brazilian contractor who has been missing over two years was positively identified but no details on the discovery have been released.

Peaceful demonstrations condemning the Golden Mosque attack were held in several cities, but unconfirmed reports and rumors of violence are abundant.

The Islamic State in Iraq posted a video of the execution of 14 Iraqi army and police personnel at an unspecified location. The group had threatened to kill the abducted men if demands were not met.

In and around Baghdad, several mosques were attacked. Mortars and rockets fell in the Green Zone and nearby areas; one person was killed and two were injured. Three people were injured by random gunfire in Risala. Mortars struck Nahrawan without causing casualties. Two people were injured in Doura. Only five bodies were recovered today in Baghdad.

A mosque in Iskandariya was destroyed in a bombing; a woman and a child in a nearby building were wounded. Guards prevented gunmen from reaching a nearby mosque; no casualties were reported in that incident, but at least two other mosques in town were attacked.

Four people were killed and six more were wounded in Basra during rocket-propelled grenade attacks on mosques. At least three more people were killed.

Four bodies were discovered in Mosul.

Six security personnel were wounded during an incident in Riyadh.

Three policemen and a civilian were injured during an explosion last night in Kirkuk.

A body was found in Latifiya.

Near Balad, gunmen killed two farmers and wounded three more.

The president of Diyala University has disappeared following several death and kidnapping threats. Earlier, it was reported that 12 lecturers were killed and 44 transferred to other universities. Also, a gunman blew himself up in front of the Arabic Advisory Council office.

A roadside bomb in Khalis killed a journalist.

No casualties were reported from a mortar attack on a U.S. base near Kut.

In Muqdadiyah, fighting broke out between members of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Mahdi Army.

In Abu Ghraib, bombs demolished a police station that was under construction.

A suicide car bomber killed two policemen and injured five others in Fallujah.

Four Iraqis soldiers were killed and an officer was wounded during a roadside bomb attack in Mussayab.

In Diwaniyah, two off-duty policemen were killed.

In other news, the Pentagon confirmed that overall violence has increased since the surge in American troops was introduced.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis