Iraq Bombing Kills 17 Including Two Police Officers

At least 17 people were killed in Musayyeb and Kirkuk, Iraq in two separate bombings. In Musayyeb, ten people died, including three children and two women, when the attackers placed the bombs around a home. In Kirkuk, a bomb exploded that was rigged to a motorcycle, killing five civilians. Armed men attacked a neighborhood in Baghdad later in the same day (Thursday) and shot four civilians. A coffee shop in Baghdad was also targeted by bombers, resulting in one more death and another 18 injured. Two police officers, who were brothers, were killed in yesterday’s attacks.

Since the beginning of 2012, the number of attacks in Iraq has risen dramatically and has killed more than 200 people. This has raised concerns as to whether or not Iraqi security forces will be able to ensure order in the war-torn country. The withdrawal of U.S. troops in December of last year was expected to bring an increase in the violence, but most officials, both in the United States and in Iraq did not expect this much of an increase. Most of the dead have been Shiite pilgrims, as well as members of Iraq’s security and police forces.

While no one has claimed responsibility for the latest bombings, it is expected that al-Qaeda is behind the attacks. Because some of the attacks happened in Baghdad’s Sunni district, officials believe that Shiite militants may be responsible and are retaliating because of last week’s attacks against the Shiites.

The power struggle going on in Iraq’s government between the Sunnis and the Shiites has the country in an upheaval as it is. The continuing violence does not make it any easier for compromises to be made. If the violence continues, the country could find itself back in the middle of a religious civil war.

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