Gunman kills swimmer, wounds driver in two separate crimes in Iraq's Dhi Qar

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Two violent incidents were recorded in Iraq's southern Dhi Qar province on Friday, according to a Dhi Qar Police Directorate source. In the town of Akiyke, south of Nasiriyah, a young man swimming in a river was shot dead by unidentified gunmen, who fled the scene, the source said. In a separate incident in the northern district of Gharraf, a Hyundai Accent owner was shot after refusing to hand over his vehicle to carjackers, the source added. The assailants forced the driver out of the car and fled in an unknown direction, leaving him wounded by a bullet. Dhi Qar is home to several tribal areas, including the border town of Akiyke and the Gharraf district. The Akiyke–Gharraf corridor has long been cited by local authorities as a focal point for armed robberies and intermittent tribal disputes. Police sources said a broad investigation has been launched to locate those responsible for both attacks. No further details were immediately available.