One killed, 7 wounded in southern Baghdad explosion

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) One person was killed and seven others were injured when an explosive device went off in southern Baghdad, a security source was quoted as saying on Wednesday on conditions of anonymity.

The bomb exploded near a popular market area at the district of Mahmoudiya, the source said. Casualties were all civilians.

Since 2014, violence surged Across Iraq, with Islamic State militants taking over wide areas of the country to establish a self-styled “Islamic Caliphate”. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq said earlier this week that violence in Iraq during 2016 left more than 12000 dead and more than 14000 wounded. According to the organization, those dead included 6.492 civilians and 5.546 military personnel. Deaths and injuries occurred in Baghdad, Salahuddin, Nineveh, Kirkuk, Anbar and Diyala, UNAMI said, adding that they resulted from military operations against Islamic State as well as in shootings, bombings and suicide attacks against civilians and security across those areas.

Nobody claimed responsibility for the Wednesday attacks, but Some observers believe Islamic State militants have tended to carry out violent attacks in Baghdad and other provinces to divert security pressure on Mosul, where the extremist group struggles to defend its last bastion in Iraq against advancing Iraqi government and popular forces.