Two civilians killed in bomb blast, northwest of Kirkuk

Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) Two civilians were killed in a bomb blast, northwest of Kirkuk, a security source from the province said on Monday.

Speaking to AlSumaria News, the source said, “a bomb from the remnants of Islamic State war went off, today, near one of the houses in al-Atshana village in Dibs town, northwest of Kirkuk, leaving two civilians killed immediately.”

“Police troops transferred the two victims to forensic medicine department,” the source, who asked to remain anonymous, added.

A total of 104 Iraqi civilians and policemen were killed, while 177 others were injured in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in Iraq in March, according to casualty figures by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

As many as 3,298 civilians were killed and 4,781 others were wounded in 2017, excluding Anbar civilian casualty figures for November and December, which are not available, UNAMI said in a report in December.

Thousands of IS militants as well as Iraqi civilians were killed since the government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and the coalition was launched in October 2016 to fight the militant group, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June 2014.

Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks across Iraq against troops. Security reports indicate that the militant group still poses threat against stability in the country.