NewsMine — war-on-terror — iraq — insurgency — 2006 — 06-aug-dec — Viewing Item

Attacks in iraq at record high says pentagon { November 2006 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2006-12-19T003735Z_01_N18192987_RTRUKOC_0_US-USA-IRAQ-REPORT.xml&src=rss&rpc=22 http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2006-12-19T003735Z_01_N18192987_RTRUKOC_0_US-USA-IRAQ-REPORT.xml&src=rss&rpc=22 Attacks in Iraq at record high: Pentagon Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:38pm ET18 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Attacks in Iraq on U.S.-led forces, local security personnel and civilians have surged 22 percent to record levels, the Pentagon said in its latest quarterly report on Iraq published on Monday. The report also noted a rise in civilian casualties and said this was directly linked to the rise of sectarian death squads, which were helped by elements of Iraqi forces. The report was released on the day Robert Gates was sworn in as U.S. defense secretary and as President George W. Bush considers changes to his Iraq policy. Gates replaces Donald Rumsfeld, heavily criticized for his handling of the war. "Attack levels -- both overall and in all specific measurable categories -- were the highest on record during this reporting period," said the report, "Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq", produced for the U.S. Congress. The average number of attacks per week rose to 959 in the three months from August 12 to November 10, from 784 in the previous three months, according to figures provided by the Pentagon to accompany the report. While U.S. commanders have said they continue to battle insurgents and al Qaeda militants, they have identified sectarian violence between Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims as the biggest obstacle to stability in Iraq. The report said civilian casualties from attacks had risen a further 2 percent over the previous three months and by some 60 percent compared to earlier in the year. "Death squads predominantly target civilians and the increase in civilian casualties is directly correlated to an increase in death squad activities," the report said. "Shi'a death squads leveraged support from some elements of the Iraqi Police Service and the National Police who facilitated freedom of movement and provided advance warning of upcoming operations," the report also said. "This is a major reason for the increased levels of murders and executions," it said. The Pentagon's figures put daily civilian casualties at 93 for the reporting period, although the report says the numbers are not precise because they come from unverified initial reports and should be used only to draw comparisons with previous periods. © Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.

100 americans die in iraq in month { September 2006 } Alqaeda blamed for shia attack in sadr city { November 23 2006 } Alsadr asks sunni leader to stop bloodshed { November 25 2006 } Attack on baghdad slum kills 161 { October 2006 } Attacks in iraq at record high says pentagon { November 2006 } Bombing at bakery kills British control of basra iraq continues { October 2006 } British journalists unlawfully killed by US forces { October 13 2006 } Charity worker slain in iraq { October 10 2006 } Former insurgents now look to US for protection { December 13 2006 } Iraq deaths multiply in new august count Iraq families exodus to escape violence { October 18 2006 } Iraq suicide bomber kills 63 { November 2006 } Iraq to take control of armed forces { August 2006 } Iraqi factions undercut plan to isolate extremists { December 22 2006 } Iraqis launch probe in rape murder of 14 year old { August 23 2006 } Militias splintering into radicalized cells { October 19 2006 } Record 3709 iraqis killed in october 2006 Report says 600k iraqi deaths since war { September 2006 } Sadr city checkpoints to be lifted { September 2006 } Shiite religious leader sistani pushes elections { December 20 2006 } Snipers kill 209 shiite pilgrims in iraq Spike in iraq violence claims 43 lives { September 18 2006 } Thousands mass for anti israel protest US casualties surge amid worsening iraq violence { October 12 2006 } Violence in iraq kills 10 US troops { October 18 2006 } Files Listed: 26

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