Bomb attacks kill 15 in, around Iraqi capital

Police and medical officials in Iraq say at least 15 people have been killed and tens of others injured in separate bomb explosions that struck areas in and around the capital, Baghdad.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said six people, including fighters from the pro-government volunteer forces, lost their lives and 14 others sustained injuries on Friday noon, when a bomber detonated his explosives-laden vest inside a small restaurant in the town of Mishada, located about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of Baghdad.

Later in the day, a bomb explosion in Baghdad’s eastern district of al-Karrada killed five people and wounded twelve others.

Additionally, four people were killed and 42 others injured in the town of Albu Faraj, located more than 120 kilometers (74 miles) west of Baghdad, on Friday, when a bombing targeted a public place.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the bombings, but officials usually blame such attacks on the ISIL Takfiri terrorists.

Iraq casualties in March

According to the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), a total of 997 people lost their lives last month, while 2,172 others were injured.

The UN mission said the number of the civilians killed stood at 729, and the number of civilians injured was 1,785. Violence also claimed the lives of a further 268 members of the Iraqi security forces while 387 others sustained injuries.

A great portion of the fatalities was recorded in Baghdad, where 362 civilians were killed and 928 others were wounded.

ISIL and Iraqi army operations

ISIL started its campaign of terror in Iraq in early June 2014. The heavily-armed militants took control of the second-largest city of Mosul before sweeping through parts of the country’s Sunni Arab heartland.

Iraqi soldiers, police units, Kurdish forces, Shia volunteers and Sunni tribesmen have been engaged in joint operations to drive the terrorists out of the areas they have seized.