Four Iraqi policemen killed, wounded in suicide bomb attack in Anbar
Security forces defend their headquarters against attacks by Islamic State during sand storm in Ramadi. (AP Photo)
Anbar (IraqiNews.com) – An Iraqi policeman was killed and three others were wounded Monday after a suicide bomber targeted a hospital in Anbar, a security source was quoted as saying.
“A suicide bomber wearing an explosive belt blew himself up outside Hadithah General Hospital in Anbar governorate,” the source told Almaalomah website.
“The explosion left a policeman dead and three others wounded,” the source added.
Earlier in the day, an Iraqi civilian was killed and two others were wounded after a bomb planted by Islamic State militants went off in Ar-Rutbah district, west of Anbar.
Violence in the country has surged further with the emergence of Islamic State extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.
The surge in violence between armed groups and government forces has resulted in over five million internally displaced persons across Iraq and left more than 11 million in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
A total of 90 Iraqi civilians were killed, while 117 others were injured due to acts of violence and terrorism during the month of August, according to the monthly count by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
The worst affected province was Baghdad with 77 civilian casualties (24 killed and 53 injured.) Then comes Nineveh with 39 casualties (29 killed and 10 injured). Anbar came in the third place with 32 casualties (6 killed and 26 injured).