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Last week in Iraq

By Times Wires
Published March 4, 2007

Attacks

- A female suicide bomber wearing a vest packed with explosives and ball bearings killed at least 41 people at a mostly Shiite college on Feb. 25. At least 18 other people were killed - mostly in Shiite districts - in bombings and rocket attacks in the Baghdad area.

- In an assassination attempt apparently plotted from inside the government, a bomb planted at an Iraqi ministry where one of the nation's vice presidents was making an official appearance Monday killed at least 10 people and injured at least 25. Separate attacks killed at least 17 people.

- Bombers struck public gathering spots in Baghdad on Tuesday, ranging from an ice cream parlor to a kebab shop, causing at least eight deaths. Police reported discovering the bodies of 31 men who had been shot to death.

- A car bomb ripped through a shopping district in a religiously mixed Baghdad neighborhood Wednesday, killing at least 10 people and wounding about 20, officials said. Ten bodies, the likely victims of sectarian death squads, were found in Baghdad.

- Baghdad saw one of its quietest days in months Thursday, with just one car bombing and one fatality. The calm was broken, however, when artillery fire could be heard across the city after sundown. A car bomb targeting a convoy of cars heading to a wedding killed at least five people in Fallujah.

- The bodies of 14 police were found Friday in Diyala province after they had been kidnapped Thursday. A group called Islamic State of Iraq claimed responsibility and posted footage of the men on the Internet. The group said the executions were carried out in response to an alleged rape of a Sunni woman by Shiite security forces. At least 11 people died in bomb attacks in Baghdad, and two soccer players were shot dead in front of teammates and spectators during a game in Baghdad by militants who accused them of cooperating with secret police.

Military

- U.S. Army officers said Monday that they had discovered a factory for assembling sophisticated roadside bombs from Iranian-made components - the first such facility uncovered in Iraq.

- The U.S. military said Wednesday that reports of a suicide bombing that killed 18 people at a soccer field Tuesday were untrue. An official said that a controlled explosion turned out much stronger than expected and injured about 30 people, including some at the soccer field across the street.

- The military said Thursday that two crew members were injured when their Kiowa helicopter made a hard landing near Kirkuk. Officials said no enemy action appeared to be involved.

Rebuilding

- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke out Feb. 25 against efforts in Congress to limit the role of U.S. forces in Iraq, saying President Bush would not allow himself to be constrained by such a "micromanagement of military affairs."

- The Iraqi Cabinet approved a draft law Monday to manage the country's vast oil industry and distribute its wealth among the population - a major breakthrough in U.S. efforts to press the country's Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish groups to reach agreements to achieve stability.

- In a softening of its refusal to pursue direct diplomacy with two Middle East adversaries, the Bush administration announced Tuesday that it will participate in a series of international meetings on Iraq that will include representatives of Iran and Syria. Iran and Syria agreed to participate Wednesday, Iraqi officials said.

Deaths

As of Saturday, 3,168 U.S. troops have died in Iraq. Identifications as reported by the U.S. military and not previously published:

- Marine Lance Cpl. Anthony Aguirre, 20, Channelview, Texas; Monday; Anbar province.

- Marine Sgt. Chad M. Allen, 25, Maple Lake, Minn.; combat operations Wednesday; Anbar province.

- Army Sgt. Jeremy D. Barnett, 27, Mineral City, Ohio; Feb. 24 of wounds from an explosion Feb. 21; Ad-Dujayl.

- Army Sgt. William J. Beardsley, 25, Coon Rapids, Minn.; explosion Monday; Diwaniyah.

- Army Spc. Ethan J. Biggers, 22, Beavercreek, Ohio; Feb. 24 of wounds sustained March 5, 2006; Baghdad.

- Army Pfc. Travis W. Buford, 23, of Galveston, Texas; explosion Feb. 22; Ramadi.

- Army Spc. Jonathan D. Cadavero, 24, of Takoma Park, Md.; explosion Tuesday; Baghdad.

- Army Staff Sgt. Joshua R. Hager, 29, Broomfield, Colo.; explosion Feb. 22; Ramadi.

- Army Cpl. Lorne E. Henry Jr., 21, of Niagara Falls, N.Y.; explosion Tuesday; Baghdad.

- Army Sgt. Richard A. Soukenka, 30, of Oceanside, Calif.; explosion Tuesday; Baghdad.

- Marine Pfc. Bufford K. Van Slyke, 22, Bay City, Mich.; combat operations Wednesday; Anbar province.

- Army Pfc. Rowan D. Walter, 25, of Winnetka, Calif.; explosion Feb. 22; Ramadi.

- Army Pvt. Kelly D. Youngblood, 19, Mesa, Ariz.; Feb. 18; Ramadi.

[Last modified March 4, 2007, 00:40:55]