Iraq Insurgents Gain Deadly New Weapon

Insurgents shift to smaller devices as security tightens

(NEWSER) - Small explosives dubbed "sticky IEDs" are contributing to a growing feeling of unease in Baghdad, the New York Times reports. The fist-sized bombs attached to magnets or adhesives are hard to detect, easy for a furtive bomber to put in place and have become the weapon of choice for militants thwarted by tighter security in their efforts to plant bigger bombs. More»

Other attacks kill 3 in Iraq

(AP) - A car bomb ripped through a funeral tent in a mainly Shiite area of Baghdad today, killing at least 37 people, including four children and three women. The car, which exploded around 2pm, had been parked with the vehicles of other mourners, several yards away from the tent, so it wouldn't raise suspicion, police said. Several other cars were set afire and the force of the blast damaged nearby houses. Another 78 were wounded, say police and hospital officials. More»

Voters casting ballots in parliamentary elections are targets

(AP) - A string of blasts across Baghdad targeting voters killed at least 17 people today, ratcheting up fear as many Iraqis cast early ballots ahead of Sunday's nationwide parliamentary elections. The blasts hit voters outside polling stations. "Terrorists wanted to hamper the elections, thus they started to blow themselves up in the streets," said the deputy interior minister in charge of security. More»

Pet and family reunited after house is leveled

(AP) - The owner of a dog that miraculously survived a massive bombing returned to his collapsed home today to be reunited with his pet, stunning neighbors who thought he was dead. The ginger-colored dog was spotted chained to a roof railing and standing on a wall ledge over the collapsed home after yesterday's huge blast near Iraq's Finance Ministry. More»

(NEWSER) - Scores of people are dead after seven coordinated bombings rocked Baghdad this morning, targeting both government ministries and poor Shia neighborhoods, the New York Times reports. Two huge bombs and three smaller blasts, probably from mortars, went off at the entrance to the fortified Green Zone, while other explosions hit the slum area of Sadr City. At least 95 people were reported killed and more than 500 injured. More»