Three civilians wounded in southern Salahuddin bomb blast

Salahuddin (IraqiNews.com) Three civilians were wounded as an IED blast exploded, south of Salahuddin, a security source said.

“An IED, placed near fuel station in Balad town, south of Salahuddin, went off late on Tuesday, leaving three civilians wounded, one of whom in serious condition,” the source told Baghdad Today on Wednesday.

“Security cordoned off the blast spot, while ambulances transferred the wounded to hospital,” the source added.

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.

A monthly count by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), which excludes security members deaths, said 297 Iraqis, were killed and injured due to violence and armed conflicts during the month of ِAugust. Baghdad was the most affected province with 45 deaths and 135 injuries.

Baghdad has seen almost daily bombings and armed attacks against security members, paramilitary groups and civilians since the Iraqi government launched a wide-scale campaign to retake IS-occupied areas in 2016. While most of of the explosions and attacks went without a claim of responsibility, Islamic State has claimed several incidents.

According to security observers, even after Islamic State’s main havens across Iraqi provinces are conquered, the group may still constitute a security threat through sleeper cells and lone wolf attacks.