Two civilians killed in armed attack near village, northeast of Baquba

Diyala (IraqiNews.com) Two civilians were killed in an armed attack that occurred near a village, northeast of Baquba, a local source from Diyala province has said.

“Unknown gunmen opened fire early on Monday against two civilians near abu Taba village [28 KM northeast of Baquba] which left them dead,” the source told AlSumaria News.

A suicide attack took place as Islamic State militants attempted infiltration into Qaraqosh military base, located east of Baquba. Several army personnel were killed and injured.

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 signalled 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.