Dozens Dead in Baghdad Mosque Blast

Heightens fears that attacks will increase now that US has withdrawn

(AP) - A wave of bombings targeting Shiites in Iraq killed 72 people today, deepening sectarian tensions that exploded just after the last American troops left the country in mid-December. The bombings began early in the morning when explosions struck two Shiite neighborhoods in Baghdad, killing at least 27 people. A few hours later, a suicide attack hit Shiite pilgrims heading to the holy Shiite city of Karbala, killing 45; those explosions took place about 200 miles southeast of Baghdad. More»

(NEWSER) - A series of bomb attacks in Baghdad and Mosul killed at least 41 people today and raised fears of a new upsurge in sectarian violence, the BBC reports. In Mosul, where an attack on a Shia mosque killed 40 people Friday, a double truck bomb killed 25 people in a Shia community. In Baghdad, construction workers were targeted with a pair of bombs that killed at least seven. Iraqis are reportedly losing faith in the government's ability to protect them under the new security deal. More»

US records first combat death in weeks

(NEWSER) - Six car bombs exploded across Baghdad today, killing at least 34 and injuring scores more, Reuters reports. Four early blasts occurred within two hours, with the last two hitting within just minutes of each other. One of those, an attack on Sadr City, wounded 65 and killed at least 10, including three women and four children. Two more explosions later rocked a market, killing at least 12. More»

Prez makes surprise trip to Baghdad, will meet with Maliki, generals

(NEWSER) - President Bush landed today in Anbar Province, just west of Baghdad, for a surprise trip in advance of the September 15 status briefing on Iraq. Bush will meet with President Nouri al-Maliki, local officials and US generals including David Petraeus, CNN reports. The president was on his way to a summit in Australia when he showed up unexpectedly. More»

Man responsible for rise in sectarian warfare

(NEWSER) - US forces claim they've killed local al-Qaeda leader Haitham al-Badri, the man widely considered responsible for the devastating repeat bombings of the Golden Mosque in Samarra. An Army spokesman says officials have ID'd al-Badri among the dead in a helicopter attack in Baghdad. More»