Iraqi army denies death of civilian at security checkpoint in Anbar
A security checkpoint in Babil province.
“News that tackled the death of a civilian in al-Soqour checkpoint are untrue,” Maj.Gen. Saad Harbiya, commander of the East Anbar Operations, told AlSumaria News on Tuesday.
Harbia added that the incidents occured one kilometer away from the checkpoint and described them as ‘accidential’.
Earlier on Tuesday, Rajei Barakat, member of the security committee of Anbar provincial council, declared death of a citizen at al-Suqour checkpoint, located southwest of Fallujah city after verbal wrangles occurred between him and the security personnel in charge of the checkpoint.
The victim, according to Barakat, attempted crossing through the checkpoint, along with his parents and family.
On Monday, Maj.Gen. Jalil al-Rubei’y, commander of Baghdad Operations, said the checkpoint will be opened once again after concluding maintenance.
More than 700 Iraqis dead and wounded during the month of June as result of violence and armed conflicts, according to a monthly count by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) which excludes security members deaths. Baghdad ranked the second place with 22 deaths and 88 injuries.
According to a previous count by UNAMI, 824 Iraqis were killed and wounded during the month of May.
Violence in the country has surged further with the emergence of Islamic State Sunni extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.
Bombings and armed attacks are seen on on almost a daily basis against security members, paramilitary groups and civilians since the Iraqi government launched a wide-scale campaign to retake IS-occupied areas in 2016.