55 Killed in Iraq as Security Forces Gather in Sinjar

During October, Antiwar.com tallied 3,071 killed and 1,160 wounded. These figures are lower than those counted last month. At least 3,974 were killed in September, and another 1,613 were wounded.

Scanning the media reports, Antiwar found that 528 civilians were reported killed, and another 602 were wounded. Security forces lost 168 members, while another 229 were wounded. The greatest number of reported casualties was among the militant groups. At least 2,375 were reported killed. Another 329 were wounded.

These casualty numbers should be considered estimates. The true figures may never be known. There is evidence that the Iraqi government is undercounting deaths among their security forces and possibly exaggerating militants deaths.

At least 171 were killed in the latest violence. Only one person was reported as wounded:

In Mosul, militants executed a dozen teenagers who were attempting to flee their control.

Ten security members were killed in Hawesh.

In Bab, gunmen killed one person and wounded another.

Gunmen killed a militiaman in Muqdadiya.

The body of a policeman was found in Jbela.

Security forces reported killing 146 militants during operations in Samarra.

Author: Margaret Griffis

Margaret Griffis is a journalist from Miami Beach, Florida and has been covering Iraqi casualties for Antiwar.com since 2006.