Thursday: 26 Iraqis Killed; 35 Wounded

Updated at 11:31 p.m. EDT, Oct. 9, 2009

At least 26 Iraqis were killed and 35 more were wounded in small but numerous attacks. Three Iranian pilgrims were also wounded, as they were traveling to Najaf. No Coalition deaths were reported. Meanwhile, a U.S. commander in southern Iraq said that he expects Iranian-backed political assassinations to take place ahead of election in January. Also, Christians are fleeing an uptick of violence against them in Mosul.

In Baghdad, a Sadrist parliamentarian and two bodyguards were killed in al-Habibiya; three others were wounded. One person was killed and four others were wounded during a roadside bomb blast in Sadr City. A man was killed when a bomb attached to his car was detonated in Mansour. Also, two dumped bodies were found.

A suicide bomber killed three policeman and wounded eight more at a station in Habaniya.

An Awakening Council (Sahwa) member was killed when a minibus carrying his family came across a roadside bomb in Udhaim. His wife and two children were killed as well. Five women were wounded.

A bomb was detonated inside a restaurant in Tal Afar, killing a civilian and a policeman. Three other people were wounded.

In Mosul, three Iraqi soldiers were wounded in a roadside bombing. An off-duty policeman was shot and killed. Another policeman was killed in a roadside bombing. Yesterday, a bomb blast wounded a policeman and a civilian. A dumped body was found. Two al-Qaeda suspects were captured. Also, at least 75 Christian families have fled Mosul following a spate of killings targeting members of this religious minority.

Near Karbala in Shamaliya, a bomb blast killed a provincial council member and wounded two employees. Also, a new commander took over security in the province.

A roadside bomb killed an Iraqi soldier and wounded three others in Wajihiya.

In Kirkuk, mortar shelling wounded two women.

Gunmen killed a civilian and an intelligence officer from the PatrioticUnion of Kurdistan (PUK) in Aghjlar.

A roadside bomb in Hurr killed a municipal employee.

Three Iranian pilgrims were wounded when a roadside bomb blasted their vehicle near Iskandariya. The group was traveling to Najaf.

A dumped body was found in Zap. This man may have been an Sahwa member.

Two people were liberated and their kidnappers were arrested in Shieyokh.

An arms smuggler was arrested and his cargo was confiscated along the Iranian border in Wassit province.

Iran shelled parts of Sulaimaniyah province overnight as part of their campaign against Party for Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK) rebels. No casualties were reported. The group is an Iranian offshoot of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and waging a similar battle for an independent Kurdish state.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis