Civilian killed in IED blast, southeast of Baghdad
The explosion of a booby-trapped vehicle. File photo.
Speaking to AlSumaria News, the source said a bomb planted under a car driven by a civil servant exploded while passing at Jisr Diyala region, southeast of Baghdad, causing his immediate death.
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.
Violence and armed conflicts claimed the lives of 317 Iraqis, and caused injuries to 403 others during the month of April, according to a monthly count by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI).
The total figure of victims signaled a drop from 1115 victims in March.
Nineveh, where U.S.-backed Iraqi government troops are caught up in battles against Islamic State militants in Mosul since October, came on top of the most affected governorate, with 276 casualties (153 killed, 123 injured). Baghdad Governorate came next with 55 killed and 179 injured. Salahuddin came third, with 15 killed and 43 injured.
Islamic State is believed to have begun escalating attacks outside the city of Mosul, where the group has been losing ground and personnel since October.