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More on the 96 Hours of Violence
UPDATE: SECTARIAN VIOLENCE IN BALAD TIKRIT, Iraq Throughout the past 96 hours, more than 60 Iraqis were killed as a result of sectarian violence in Balad, Iraq, just north of Baghdad. Also, in the past 48 hours, the city has been hit with five indirect fire attacks, killing six civilians and wounding 10. The violence began when 19 Shia were kidnapped and killed Friday in Al Dulyiyah, east of Balad. The following day, more than 38 Sunnis were killed in retaliation. As the sectarian violence escalated, the provincial government of Salah ad Din established a 48-hour vehicular curfew beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday. Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) enforced the curfew by maintaining a presence throughout the city and establishing checkpoints to halt insurgents and militias from entering the city. Coalition Forces also provided assistance to the ISF operations at the request of the Iraqi civic and military leaders. We continue to conduct our normal patrols in the city and provide support for Iraqi Security Forces as they lead operations in stopping the sectarian violence in Balad, said Lt. Col. Jeffery Martindale, commander of 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. We are also providing counter-fire support against terrorists conducting indirect fire attacks against innocent civilians in Balad. Coalition Forces detained two Iraqi Police officers who were allegedly involved in the killing of the 19 Shias from Al Duluiyah, said Martindale. By coordinating all of our efforts, we have seen a marked decrease in violence in the past 24 hours, added Martindale. Posted by: Glenmore 2006-10-17 |
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