UPDATED: 2 killed, 4 wounded in bomb blasts north, south of Baghdad
File Photo. Explosion in Baghdad
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Two civilians were killed and four others were wounded on Saturday when bomb blasts hit areas in northern and southern Baghdad, a police source was quoted saying.
A police source told Alghad Press that an explosive device planted near a popular market in Youssefiya, south of Baghdad, exploded, killing one person and wounding another.
Alsumaria News quoted another police source saying that a civilian was killed and three others were injured when an explosive device, placed near commercial stores in Husseiniyat al-Rashidiya, an area north of the capital, went off.
Baghdad has seen almost daily bombings and armed attacks since Islamic State militants emerged in 2014 and proclaimed a self-styled “Caliphate” before a military campaign claimed victory over the militant group early December.
According to the monthly release by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), a total of 69 civilians, excluding police personnel, were killed, while 142 others were wounded in December due to acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict across the country.
The worst affected province was Baghdad with 122 civilian casualties (24 killed, 98 injured). Salahuddin ranked the second place, with 7 killed and 25 injured, then Kirkuk came third with 15 killed and 6 injured.
The figures represented a significant decline from November’s which reached a total of 117 Iraqi civilians killed and another 264 injured.
According to the organization, 3298 Iraqi civilians were killed and 4781 were wounded in violence and armed conflict in 2017.