Explosion Kills Three, Wounds Eight in Sha'ab

BAGHDAD - An explosion killed three local nationals and wounded eight others in the Sha'ab neighborhood of the Adhamiyah district in northern Baghdad at approximately 8:30 a.m. Aug. 16.

A 120 mm round detonated in the trunk of a vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed and there was minor damage to neighboring structures. A building initially caught fire but was extinguished by the local fire department.

"This attack was far off of the main pilgrimage routes due to the security efforts of the 42nd Brigade, 11th Division of the Iraqi Army and the local police," said Lt. Col. John Digiambattista, operations officer for 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. "This attack shows the desperation of al- Qaeda in Iraq. They must conduct their attacks in low traffic areas far from the local security forces.

"The Iraqi Army continues to develop capability and will not be set back by these types of senseless attacks on innocent civilians," he said.

Many Sha'ab residents are on a pilgrimage to Karbala for the observance of the birth of the 12th Imam.