A Wave of Deadly Attacks in Iraq

At least 75 people are dead and more than 250 people are injured after a wave of deadly attacks in Iraq on Monday. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has told security forces to "not let the killers catch their breath" and stay on their tails "until they finish them." A jihadist website has released a statement applauding the attacks, but no one has announced their responsibility of the attacks yet.

Monday’s attacks included an attack on security forces in Tikrit, north of Baghdad. Also, at least 37 people were killed and at least 65 were wounded after a car bomb and roadside bomb exploded on a busy street during rush hour in Kut. There were also attacks in Twareej – near the holy city of Karbala, Khan Bani Saad – north of Baghdad, and the Anbar province, among others.

These attacks are taking place just weeks after political leaders in Iraq agreed to request U.S. troops stay longer than their January 1 deadline to leave the country. The U.S. is expected to agree to an extension and let troops stay in the country, but no official statement has been made yet.

Last year, during Ramadan on August 25, a wave of attacks took place that are strangely similar to the attacks that took place Monday, according to Major Angela Funaro, a spokeswoman for United States Forces-Iraq. During this attack, the Interior Ministry and other health officials have placed the number of wounded people at 252 by early Monday evening, though that number could rise. This particular spree of violence has come after a period of inactivity that started with Ramadan.