Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Thirteen British soldiers were wounded today by two explosions in the southern Iraqi city of Basra during a demonstration, officials said.
Defence Minister Adam Ingram told the House of Commons about the violence in Basra, where many of the British soldiers in Iraq are based.
A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said the 13 soldiers were evacuated to a nearby British military hospital at Shaibah, and none of them appeared to be suffering life-threatening injuries.
She said the explosions occurred during a demonstration, but that the protest did not appear to be linked to the blasts and that no Iraqi police or civilians were wounded.
The soldiers were reported to have fired tear gas at around 500 Iraqi demonstrators protesting at their failure to get jobs with the local customs police.
The chief of Basra customs, Colonel Zafer Abdel-Nabi, said that the demonstrators thrown rocks, petrol bombs and a grenade at the troops.
Nine of the the soldiers were wounded in a grenade explosion, he said.
Some demonstrators were reported to have shouted slogans in support of Saddam Hussein and protesting at Israel's killing of Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin in Gaza City.
According to witnesses they chanted: "We are all sons of Yassin".
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments