Iraqi police and medical authorities say at least 18 people lost their lives and more than a dozen others sustained injuries when two separate car bomb attacks targeted security personnel in the capital, Baghdad, and elsewhere in the country.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said three police officers and six civilians were killed when a bomber rammed his explosive-laden car into a checkpoint in Baghdad’s northern neighborhood of al-Shu’ala on Wednesday. Another 22 people were also wounded in the attack.
Later in the day, a similar attack targeted a police base in the town of al-Karma, located 48 kilometers (30 miles) west of Baghdad, killing nine police officers and wounding 10 others.
Two police officials, requesting not to be named, said the bomber used an Iraqi army vehicle seized earlier by ISIL militants in the attack.
There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the acts of violence.
The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) says a total of 1,031 Iraqis were killed and another 1,684 were wounded in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in May. According to the UN mission, the number of civilian fatalities stood at 665. Violence also claimed the lives of 366 members of the Iraqi security forces. A great portion of the fatalities was recorded in Baghdad, where 343 civilians were killed.
Gruesome violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since ISIL launched an offensive in June 2014, and took control of portions of Iraqi territory. Units of army soldiers coupled with volunteer fighters are seeking to win back militant-held regions in joint operations.
