Diyala news stories on Newser

56 Killed in Blasts Across Iraq

Matt Cantor — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 06:15:10 CDT

Bombs struck more than a dozen Iraqi cities this morning, killing 56 and wounding dozens more. The coordinated explosions mark the first major violence in a comparatively peaceful month of Ramadan, the AP notes; the violence comes as as officials debate whether to maintain a US presence in the country...

Maliki Not Above Arresting Rivals as Iraq Election Looms

Kevin Spak — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:55:02 CDT

PM Nouri al-Maliki looks a lot like a strongman these days, using every lever at his disposal to influence Iraq’s January elections, the Washington Post reports. His men have arrested or threatened political rivals in Diyala province and Basra; last month they even arrested a councilman from the Iraqi Islamic...

Iraq Cracks Down on US-Allied Sunni Fighters

Rob Quinn — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:30:03 CDT

Iraq's Shiite-dominated government has begun a crackdown on groups of US-backed Sunni fighters, the New York Times reports. The government fears the fighters, part of what is called the Awakening movement, could be waiting to turn their guns on Shiites. In several parts of the country senior members have been...

Desperation Drives Iraq's Female Bombers

Rob Quinn — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:53:08 CDT

Female suicide bombings are on the rise in Iraq's restive Diyala province, the New York Times reports, and success in combating al-Qaeda may be the cause. Many local insurgents have been killed or detained, leaving their surviving female relatives with little hope for the future. They often come under great...

Sunni Fighters Growing Tired of US Neglect

Kevin Spak — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:06:00 CST

The mostly Sunni volunteer forces that have drastically improved Iraq’s security are losing patience with US handlers, the Washington Post reports. Desertions are under way in key provinces over lack of resources, political disagreements, and disputed accounts of US troops killing members of the so-called Sunni Awakening. “Now, there is...

Sunni Chiefs Killed in Iraq Suicide Bomb

Jane Yager — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 05:44:36 CST

A suicide bomber detonated his vest in a meeting yesterday of anti-al-Qaeda Sunni chiefs, killing five leaders in the battle to drive al-Qaeda from Diyala province, in central Iraq. The bomb went off in the home of Sheikh Faez al-Obeidi, 30 miles north of Baghdad; killed were the sheikh and...

Suicide Bomber on Bicycle Kills 28 Iraqi Policemen

Kevin Spak — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 08:04:40 CDT

A suicide bomber rode a bicycle into an Iraqi police compound in Baquba today, killing 28 officers and wounding 20 others, including a woman and a child, in the bloodiest attack on security forces in months. Authorities suspect al Qaeda, which has vowed increased attacks on security forces and Sunni...

Dozens Dead in Baghdad Mosque Blast

M. Morris — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 11:39:46 CDT

A car bomb exploded near a Shia mosque in Baghdad today just as afternoon prayers were ending, killing at least 75. More than 200 people were injured in the blast, which sent smoke billowing over the central city. The explosion came 2 days after officials lifted a curfew imposed following...

US Launches Major Attack on Sunni Insurgents

Sam Gale Rosen — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 07:16:30 CDT

Two thousand U.S. and Iraqi troops launched a large-scale assault on Sunni insurgents in Diyala province last night, pursuing militants who have moved their strongholds outside of Baghdad. The offensive in the province's capital, Baquba, is part of a much larger operation attacking centers of insurgency all over Iraq....