The National is reporting that since June, 630 Iraqis have been killed by so-called “hit-men.” This is a recent phenomenon that has taken root in Iraq and which continues to intensify. The tactic involves utilizing silencers on pistols and rifles to enable an attacker to silently kill their victim and then flee without being noticed.
The L.A. times has also reported on this development, noting that those who are being targeted are high profile individuals such as government officials, those in the security forces, and journalists.
Some in Iraq are even suggesting that these killings are being carried out covertly by foreign governments. An Iraqi interior ministry spokesmen said that :
“The assassins are carrying out their plans very well and they almost always kill their target. They don’t make mistakes. That makes us believe that foreign intelligence services control them and move them according to their agenda”
Weapons such as the ones being used are easily smuggled through checkpoints, where much of the equipment used to search vehicles is inadequate or has never worked at all.
The inability of Iraqi political blocs to form a government is no doubt contributing to the surge in recent violence, as it gives more and more time for insurgent groups to find and exploit gaps in Iraq’s largely unproven security forces.
IRAQ: Mysterious killings continue to shake Baghdad – L.A. Times
Hitmen ‘have killed 630 Iraqis with silent guns” – The National
I just saw this. Thought I’d forward FYI:
FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, Sept 29 29 Sep 2010 14:02:49 GMT
Source: Reuters
Sept 29 (Reuters) – Following are security developments in Iraq at 1400 GMT on Wednesday.
* Denotes a new or updated item.
* QALAAT DIZA – A suicide bomber who was stopped by Kurdish peshmerga soldiers for an identification check detonated his explosives, wounding an officer and a soldier, in the town of Qalaat Diza, northeast of Suleimaniya, 260 km (160 miles) northeast of Baghdad, Abdulla Ibrahim, acting municipal manager of Qalaat Diza said.
BAGHDAD – Two roadside bombs wounded five civilians when they exploded in close proximity in central Baghdad, an Interior Ministry source said.
BAGHDAD – A roadside bomb wounded two civilians in central Baghdad, Interior Ministry and hospital sources said.
SAQLAWIYA – A bomb planted in a police officer’s house exploded, wounding three women and a man, in the town of Saqlawiya, 50 km (32 miles) west of Baghdad, a police officer in the Saqlawiya police station said.
BAGHDAD – Two roadside bombs wounded four civilians in Baghdad’s southern district of Saidiya late on Tuesday, an Interior Ministry source said.
BAGHDAD – A roadside bomb wounded six civilians in the Kadhimiya district of northern Baghdad late on Tuesday, an Interior Ministry source said.
KIRKUK – A roadside bomb wounded an off-duty policeman when it went off near his house northwest of Kirkuk, 250 km (155 miles) north of Baghdad, on Tuesday, police said.
MOSUL – Gunmen killed a tribal leader after they stormed his house in eastern Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, on Tuesday, police said.
NEAR SAMARRA – Gunmen killed a police officer late on Tuesday after they stormed his house in Ragga village near Samarra, 100 km (62 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.