Eleven Iraqi civilians were killed and 20 wounded in a series of five explosive attacks in central and eastern Baghdad July 23. One Iraqi was killed and another wounded when a bus exploded at the juncture of the al-Tib and al-Ulum areas of the Rusafa District at 8 a.m. July 23. Shortly after the explosion, Soldiers with Company A, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division responded to the attack, sealed off the area and reported that a package or explosive device placed on the bus caused it to explode in place, damaging three additional vehicles in the area. Two additional attacks occurred simultaneously at 10:40 a.m. on the Karadah Peninsula, killing five Iraqis, wounding nine others and damaging 11 vehicles. Soldiers with the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, attached to the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, rushed to the scene, cordoned off the area and aided Iraqi emergency services on site.
One hour later, just northeast of the Karadah Peninsula another car bomb detonated in the al-Wehda area of Rusafa, killing one Iraqi and wounding two others. Two Iraqi Police officers were also wounded in the attack. Coalition Forces, Iraqi Security Forces and Iraqi emergency service workers helped secure and clear the area. All of the wounded Iraqi civilians in these attacks were transported to the Medical City Hospital for treatment.
In central Baghdad, four Iraqi civilians were killed and two others wounded when a fourth car bomb detonated at approximately 1:30 p.m. in the al-Salhiya area of the Karkh District just north of the International Zone. Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division quickly responded establishing a secure cordon, clearing the area.
Four hours later, a car bomb was found near the site of the attack earlier that afternoon after an Iraqi civilian approached Coalition troops manning an entry control point outside of the International Zone.
Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division located a Black Volkswagen 4-door hatchback packed with 12 lbs. of homemade explosives and 16 81mm mortar rounds inside. An Iraqi explosive ordnance disposal team was called in to secure, clear and disable the car bomb.
Since July 15, three car bomb attacks have occurred in the Karkh District. Seven car bombs have targeted the Rusafa District. Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces continue targeting these insurgent and militia groups with ongoing clearing and cordon and search operations designed to reduce sectarian violence and clear areas of weapons caches and bomb-making materials.