Wave of Attacks Rock 13 Cities Across Iraq

A wave of attacks has rocked 13 cities across Iraq on Monday, killing 111 people and injure many more.

Media reports say a coordinated string of bombings and shooting in 13 cities, including Baghdad, the capital, injured nearly 200 more, targeting security forces and Government officials.

In Baghdad, a car bomb outside a government office killed at least 12 people and wounded 22 others, security and medical officials said.

Meanwhile, two other explosions in the Baghdad neighbourhoods of Husseiniyah and Yarmuk killed at least four people and left 24 others wounded.

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The April 2003 toppling of Saddam Hussein’s statue in Firdos Square in Baghdad shortly after the Iraq War invasion.

Reports say Monday’s toll was the highest since May 10, 2010, when 111 people were killed.

The United Nations mission in Iraq today strongly condemned the wave of attacks that started yesterday in the Middle Eastern country.

“I strongly condemn the heinous attacks and the senseless violence and bloodshed across the country.” – Secretary-Geneneral’s Deputy Special Representative Gyorgy Busztin

He says the scale and brutality of the attacks are appalling – especially now, when Iraqis are not only celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, with its messages of peace and reconciliation, but are also welcoming thousands of returnees who have fled the ongoing violence in Syria.

“The criminals who perpetrated these attacks must be held to account.” -Mr. Busztin

Mr. Busztin also extended his condolences to the families of those who were killed and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.

In March this year, a series of deadly bomb attacks in a number of Iraqi cities have claimed the lives of more than 40 people and injured many others.

Media reports indicated that a series of coordinated bomb blasts went off in over a dozen cities and towns, including the capital, Baghdad, as well as Karbala, Kirkuk, Falluja and Mosul, killing more than 40 people and wounding scores of others.

The deadly bombings coincides with the ninth anniversary of the US invasion and days before the nation hosts a meeting of Arab leaders.

Reports say that some of them targeted police or government facilities.

The top United Nations envoy in Iraq expressed condemnation on the deadly bombings.

Martin Kobler, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI)

urged authorities to make every effort to identify the perpetrators of the “atrocious acts of violence” and bring them to justice.

Mr. Kobler extended his condolences to the families of those who were killed and wished those who suffered injuries a speedy recovery.

The attacks on some Iraqi cities come nine years to the day since a U.S.-led army invaded Iraq on 20th of March 2003 which had ousted notorious dictator Saddam Hussein.

On December 2006, Saddam Hussein, the man who brought suffering to many Arabs, has been executed in a secret location in a northern Baghdad suburb, Khademiya.

Reports say nearly 4,500 Americans were killed before the last American troops left Iraq in December 2011.

Mina Fabulous

Mina Fabulous follows the news, especially what is going on in the US State Department. Mina turns State Department waffle into plain English. Mina Fabulous is the pen name of Carmen Avalino, the NewsBlaze production editor. When she isn’t preparing stories for NewsBlaze writers, she writes stories, but to separate her editing and writing identities, she uses the name given by her family and friends.