Iraq insurgency worsens as attacks kill 28
Iraq’s insurgency appeared unfazed by two US-led military offensives, mounting separate attacks that killed at least 28 people throughout the country today.
The largest one occurred in the northern Kurdish city of Irbil. A suicide car bomber dressed as a policeman slammed into a large group of traffic police officers gathered for morning roll call, killing 15 and wounding more than 100 others, police and hospital officials said.
Operations Spear and Dagger, which began over the weekend and are aimed at destroying militant networks near the Syrian border and north of Baghdad, appeared to be winding down. US and Iraqi forces have killed about 60 insurgents and captured 100 so far.
Other insurgent violence throughout the country today killed 13, including a US soldier killed by a roadside bomb in northern Iraq.
The Irbil attack came a day after a suicide bomber walked into a crowded Baghdad restaurant, killing at least 23 people, including several policemen - the deadliest attack in the capital in just over six weeks.
The rate of insurgent attacks has risen dramatically since Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari announced his Cabinet on April 28.
At least 1,180 people have been killed since then, based on military, police and hospital reports.
