The tempo of deadly attacks has quickened in Iraq. Coordinated bombings and other assaults have occurred almost daily since the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. On Aug. 28 alone, 30 people were killed and 160 were wounded as some 12 explosive devices detonated simultaneously in mostly Shiite neighborhoods in Baghdad. The violence has occurred primarily in regions around Baghdad, Tikrit, Kirkuk and Mosul. Less frequently, militants have also attacked national security forces stationed in Sunni regions and targets deeper into areas traditionally controlled by Shia. The geographic focus of the attacks indicates that the reach of militants is limited to areas in which they can routinely operate freely, typically where the Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish spheres of influence intersect.
Militants appear to be taking the path of least resistance, opting to hit soft targets with relatively smaller, coordinated attacks. Taken together, these smaller attacks result in high casualty counts. These targets include civilians in residential areas and security personnel manning exposed checkpoints. Notably, militants have not attacked oil transportation infrastructure, the revenues from which are critical to uniting Iraq's various power factions, or systems essential for daily needs, such as drinking water and electricity. Government buildings, including ministry headquarters, have also been spared.
Casualties over the past four months have reached their highest levels since the sectarian conflict that raged from 2006 to 2008 during U.S. Operation Iraqi Freedom. Near-daily attacks seem likely to continue, but the dramatic rise in violence in Iraq does not portend a return to total instability.
