The violence torn Iraq continues to make headlines for its daily bloodshed. In a major offensive, the U.S. military deployed 10,000 soldiers under the cover of attack helicopters killed at least 22 insurgents in the offensive in north of Baghdad on Tuesday.
Earlier, a truck bomber struck in the capital, killing 75 people near Khillani Shiite mosque. The explosion was so thunderous that it ripped apart many shops in the commercial area as smoke ballooned over concrete buildings. The vehicle carrying the bomb was parked inside the mosque premises. The incident left 204 wounded. The blast was soon followed by gunfire in a parking lot near the mosque.
The mosque’s imam, Sheik Saleh al-Haidari, lamented that sick souls carried out the attack damaging the mosque’s outer wall. The blast occurred suddenly as worshippers were leaving afternoon prayers. The Imam Ali hospital in Sadr City was crowded with victims, many badly burnt.
The Khillani mosque, a revered Shiite shrine named after one of the four deputies anointed by the Imam Mohammed al-Mahdi, who disappeared in the 9th century and would return to restore justice to humanity.
Meanwhile, U.S. led forces have raided militant safe houses and seized a number of artillery, weapons, handcuffs, swords and electricity cables. The raid dubbed as Operation Arrowhead Ripper, took place in Baqouba, the capital of Diyala province, and involved air assaults under the cover of darkness. The operation is said to be in its opening stages.
As militants raise their attacks on the land, trouble torn Iraqi’s continue to reel under the horror of death.
Via: Msnbc
