Suicide Bomber Target Arba’een Pilgrims
February 25, 2008
Above: An Iraqi soldier directs Shi’ite pilgrims
A suicide bomber kills at least 40 people at a Shi’ite rest stop outside the Hateen Apartments in Iskandiriyah City, Iraq. 25 out of the 60 more that were hurt are critically injured in the attack. The bombing vistims include women and children.
According to a United States military official, 42,000 pilgrims are gathered in the vicinity – all are walking towards Karbala City to attend the Arba’een ceremony of this Sunday. Arba’een is a Shi’a religious holiday that occurs forty days after the Day of Ashurah – which is commemorated by the Shi’a as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali at the Battle of Karbala. Husayn ibn Ali is the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
Turkey Soldiers Chase Kurds
February 23, 2008
Above: Turks Soldier Chasing Kurds
The Turkish General Staff reports that Kurdish Kurdistan Workers Party guerrillas killed in recent battles is now up to 79 after just two days since taking the fighting to the mountains. Their troops (pictured above patrolling the snowy mountains) killed 35 rebels in Northern Iraq Saturday. The offensive was backed up by warplanes, artillery and combat helicopters. They also report losing 7 of their troops in battle.
This war between Turkish troops and the Kurdistan Workers Party, who are fighting to create a Kurdish homeland in southeast Turkey, has been going on for decades and has already spilled over to neighboring Iraq. The Kurdistan Workers Party is declared as a terrorist group by the international community.
Sri Lankan Air Force Bomb Rebels
February 22, 2008
Above: Sri Lankan MiG
One day after reports of ground battles killing 95 people (92 rebels and 3 government soldiers), the Sri Lankan Air Force (pictured above is a Sri Lankan MiG) bombed a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebel base at around around 8:15 a.m. local time Friday morning – targeting two artillery positions. The so-called “Sea Tiger” base is at Kiranchchi in the Kilinochchi district of Sri Lanka.
Below: Tiger Tamil Soldier
