At least 40 people were killed and 115 more were wounded in the today’s attacks. The Iraqi government also reported the deaths of 38 suspects during a recent security operation in Anbar province.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari, who is in Washington D.C. and meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry, blamed al-Qaeda for the increase in violence. He declared "it is our destiny to win this battle which is aimed at destroying the country and turning it into another Syria." He further vowed that the government would work to keep Iraq from sinking back into a full-blown sectarian war.
Kerry, in turn, promised U.S. help in keeping the two conflicts separate and suggested that Iraq work on domestic concerns that are fueling the violence. The increase in Iraqi’s turmoil began in April when the Iraqi government killed dozens in an unprovoked attack on Sunni protesters in Hawija.
During a press conference, Baghdad Operations Command reported killing 38 suspects and arresting 145 more during a security operation in Jazira, a town in neighboring Anbar province. Spokesmen claimed that the operation forced terrorists into Baghdad where they implemented today’s coordinated attacks. It is unclear when the raids took place.
In Baghdad, at least 34 people were killed and 103 more were wounded in a series of coordinated bomb attacks. A car bomb killed eight people and wounded 19 more in Kadhimiya. Seven people were killed and 15 more were wounded in an attack on a police station in Baladiyat. A bomb in Bab al-Muadham left five dead and 13 wounded. Six people were killed and 13 more were wounded in a blast in Allawi. On a road into Rashad, a bomb killed two people and wounded 10 more. Three people were killed and 11 more were wounded in a blast in southwest Baghdad. In the suburb of Husseiniya, a bomb killed two people and wounded 12 more. A bomb in Amil wounded seven people. Three people were wounded in a blast in al-Shorta al-Khamisa. At least one more person was killed in the violence. Despite the other reports, the Interior Ministry insisted that only three people were killed in today’s attacks.
Elsewhere, a sticky bomb planted in car in Dujail killed a man and his mother; his father and three sisters were wounded. Other bombs destroyed shops.
In Mosul, a bomb killed two civilians and wounded a third one.
In Shirqat, a bomb killed one policeman and wounded three more. A rocket attack on a police station left no casualties.
One person was killed and two more were wounded when gunmen attacked their vehicle on a highway near Shatra.
A bomb wounded two soldiers in Amiriyat al-Falluja.
A sticky bomb in Baquba failed to kill a senior military officer.
In Kirkuk, a car bomb left an unknown number of casualties.
