Iraqis on Sunday inspect the site of a blast, about 15 kms (nine miles) from the northern city of Kirkuk.
- NEW: Two car bombs in Amara kill two people
- 39 people have been killed in a slew of attacks Sunday
- Gunmen attack an army checkpoint near Tikrit, killing soldiers
- Later, IEDs planted at the checkpoint kill more soldiers
Baghdad (CNN) -- A series of attacks and blasts targeting Iraqi military and police left at least 39 people dead Sunday as the nation struggles with violence against security officials.
The incidents are the latest in a rash of similar attacks. In August, more than 70 Iraqi security forces were killed, according to the Interior Ministry.
The Sunday attacks hit a series of cities. Here is a breakdown:
Amara bombings
Two car bombs exploded in central Amara, killing two people and wounding 10 others, according to two officials with the Iraqi Interior Ministry.
The attacks took place on a busy commercial street, the officials said.
Kirkuk bombings
A car bomb targeting a police recruitment center killed eight people and wounded 36 others, officials said.
In another attack, two blasts -- from car and roadside bombs -- hit the intelligence headquarters, killing eight and wounding 50 others.
Tikrit attacks
Gunmen targeted an army checkpoint that leads to a military base, killing four Iraqi soldiers, the Interior Ministry said.
Afterward, the gunmen planted improvised explosive devices at the checkpoint. When more Iraqi soldiers arrived at the scene to investigate, several detonated, killing seven soldiers and wounding seven more, Interior Ministry officials said.
Western Basra explosions
A car bomb exploded at an outdoor market, killing three people, the Interior Ministry said. The blast, which took place near an army checkpoint, also wounded 25 people.
Taji blasts
Car bombs exploded in three separate locations, killing one and wounding seven.
Nasiriya roadside bombs
Two exploded on a busy commercial street, killing six people and wounding 10 others, the Interior Ministry said.
The bombings took place near the French consular, security officials said, adding that they did not know whether the consular was targeted.
Recent attacks
Last week, gunmen killed at least five police officers in the city of Ramadi, police said.
Iraq has battled political infighting among Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds, raising worries that the political conflict will return to the level of violence that nearly tore the country apart in 2006.
While violence has reduced since the height of the U.S.-led war in 2005 and 2006, there has been a sharp escalation in attacks in recent months. In July, the number of dead hit a two-year peak with 325 deaths reported, according to the Interior Ministry. That's the deadliest single month since August 2010, it said.
Baghdad's Shiite-dominated government has blamed the recent attacks on Sunni insurgents with ties to al Qaeda.
U.S. troops completed their withdrawal from Iraq in December.
