Security Summary: August 18, 2007

Left: Men grieve today in Najaf over the casket of one of dozens killed in clashes between U.S. forces and Mahdi Army members in Baghdad yesterday.

BAGHDAD - The bodies of 18 people were found dumped in different areas of Baghdad in the past 24 hours, police said.

BAGHDAD - One person was killed and six wounded in a mortar attack in the Saha district of southwestern Baghdad, police said.

KHALIS - Seven people were killed, including an infant, in a mortar barrage that hit the town of Khalis, 80 km (50 miles) north of Baghdad, on Saturday, police said.

BAGHDAD - The governor of Nineveh province said the death toll from the multiple suicide truck bombing this week that targeted members of the minority Yazidi sect had risen to 344, with about 70 people still believed missing. Iraqi officials have given widely differing death tolls.

BAGHDAD - U.S forces killed two militants and detained 16 others during operations in central and northern Iraq, the U.S military said in a statement.

ISKANDARIYA - Police found three bodies in Iskandariya, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, police said. All had been shot in the head.

HAWIJA - Gunmen killed a police officer in a drive-by shooting in Hawija, 70 km (40 miles) southwest of Kirkuk, police said.

BAGHDAD - Eleven bodies were found dumped in different parts of Baghdad over the past 24 hours, police said.

KIRKUK - At least four people were killed and 34 others wounded when two bombs exploded in quick succession inside a market in central Kirkuk on Friday, police said.

KIRKUK - At least four people were killed and 34 others wounded when two bombs exploded in quick succession inside a market in central Kirkuk on Friday, police said.

From Reuters/Alternet