UN: Iraq violence kills at least 1,100 in February
UN mission in Iraq says 611 civilians among 1,103 killed last month while the rest were members of security forces.
The UN mission to Iraq says violence in the country claimed the lives of at least 1,100 Iraqis in February, including more than 600 civilians.
In a statement released on Sunday, the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) said 611 civilians were among 1,103 people killed last month. The rest were members of the security forces.
UNAMI said at least 2,280 people were wounded, including 1,353 civilians. Last month’s death toll was at least 1,375.
It said the most violent city was the capital Baghdad, with 329 civilians killed and 875 wounded.
The UN numbers do not include the third of the country held by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.
According to UNAMI, last year was the deadliest in Iraq since 2006-2007, with a total of 12,282 people killed and 23,126 wounded.
The news came a day after a series of attacks targeting public places and Shia militia checkpoints in and north of Baghdad killed 37 people, according to authorities.
The first bombs exploded near the market in the town of Balad Ruz, 70km northeast of Baghdad, killing 11 people and wounding 50, police and hospital officials said.
Two suicide car bombers later attacked checkpoints manned by Shia militiamen near the city of Samarra, killing 16 Shia fighters and wounding 31, authorities said.
Samarra and surrounding areas have been under constant attacks by ISIL, which holds about a third of Iraq and neighbouring Syria in its self-declared caliphate.