SEPARATE TERRORIST ATTACKS CLAIM 9 LIVES ACROSS IRAQ

Baghdad, 6 Shafar 1436H/29 November 2014M (MINA) – At least nine people have been killed in a series of bombings and gun attacks targeting commercial districts and army forces in Iraq.

Police officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said four people were killed and nine others wounded when a bomb went off near a market in the northeastern neighborhood of Husseiniyah in the capital, Baghdad, on Friday morning, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Saturday.

A bomb blast targeting an outdoor market also killed three people and wounded a dozen others in Sabaa al-Bour city, located approximately 28 kilometers (18 miles) northwest of Baghdad.

In a separate incident, gunmen in a speeding car sprayed an army checkpoint in the town of Tarmiyah, situated about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Baghdad, with bullets, killing two soldiers and wounding two others

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks. However, Iraqi officials usually blame such attacks on the ISIL Takfiri terrorists.

The ISIL terrorists launched an offensive in June and took control of Iraq’s second largest city, Mosul, before sweeping through much of the country’s Sunni Arab heartland.

The extremist group has threatened all communities, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and Christians during its advances in the country.

New figures released by the United Nations show that violence in Iraq claimed over 1,270 lives in October alone.

The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said on November 1 that at least 856 civilians and 417 security forces lost their lives in October, while over 2,000 others sustained injuries.

The UN casualty figures are lower than the official death toll reported by the Iraqi government, which says more than 1,700 civilians and security forces were killed and over 2,300 others wounded in October. (T/P002/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)