One killed, 3 wounded in bomb blast west of Baghdad
Photos shared across social networks show pillows of smoke following a bomb blast in central Baghdad
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) One civilian was killed and three others were wounded on Thursday when a bomb blast hit an area in western Baghdad, a security source was quoted saying.
Baghdad Today quoted the source saying that the explosive device was placed near commercial shops in Bakriya, west of the capital.
Violence and armed conflicts left more than 500 Iraqis dead and wounded during the month of July, according to a monthly count by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq which excludes security members deaths.
“A total of 241 Iraqi civilians were killed and another 277 injured in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in Iraq in July,” the UNAMI report said, noting that the security personnel casualties were excluded from the figures.
Baghdad was the second most affected province with 38 killed and 85 injured.
Baghdad has seen almost daily bombings and armed attacks against security members, paramilitary groups and civilians since the Iraqi government launched a wide-scale campaign to retake IS-occupied areas in 2016. While most of of the explosions attacks went without a claim of responsibility, Islamic State has claimed several incidents.
Some security observers believe that even after IS’s main havens across Iraqi provinces are conquered, the group may still constitute a security threat through sleeper cells and lone wolf attacks.