BAGHDAD — In a coordinated display intended to show they remain a viable force, Iraqi insurgents set off car bombs, stormed a military base and ambushed checkpoints in at least 13 separate attacks on Monday, Iraqi authorities said.
[h=6]Iraq/Reuters[/h]A policeman in Kirkuk on Monday, where four car bombs were reported.
[h=6]Mohammed Ameen/Reuters[/h]Residents at the site of a car bomb attack in Mahmudiya, south of Baghdad, on Monday.
The attacks killed at least 34 people and wounded 143 people in preliminary totals. The Associated Press put the total at 82, which would make it the bloodiest day this year.
They came one day after an audio message attributed to Al Qaeda in Iraq promised a new offensive, which it called Breaking Down Walls.
In sheer number of attacks, and with reports of new ones continuing to come in from provinces in northern and central Iraq, the offensive was without precedent this year, and was sure to raise concerns about the government’s ability to contain the violence six months after the last American troops left the country.
"We are returning again to dominate territories we used to dominate, as well as more," the Al Qaeda statement said.
The first attack came about 5 a.m. Monday when gunmen stormed onto an Iraqi military base near the town of Duluiyah in Salahuddin Province and killed 15 Iraqi soldiers, according to security officials. Four soldiers, including a high-ranking officer, were wounded, and a fifth was taken prisoner by the insurgents, who escaped with him.
Then in quick succession, car bombs were set off at places from Taji and Husseiniya north of Baghdad, to Sadr City in eastern Baghdad, and Tuz in western Salahuddin province, Dujail in southern Salhuddin, and Balad, northeast of the capital, according to accounts from local police, hospital and Iraqi Army officials.
The insurgents also attacked the home of a police official in Balad, seriously wounding four family members, and ambushed a checkpoint near Baquba, killing one policeman.
The attacks were likely to continue the trend of the first six months since the departure of American troops, when violence has steadily increased, according to United Nations statistics. June was one of the deadliest months so far, with about 200 people, mostly civilian pilgrims, reported killed.
Unusually, none of the attackers were suicide bombers. Authorities in Salahuddin Province, which seemed to be the worst hit area, said they also managed to defuse two car bombs and three roadside bombs without harm.
Rod Nordland reported from Cairo.
[h=6]Iraq/Reuters[/h]A policeman in Kirkuk on Monday, where four car bombs were reported.
[h=6]Mohammed Ameen/Reuters[/h]Residents at the site of a car bomb attack in Mahmudiya, south of Baghdad, on Monday.
The attacks killed at least 34 people and wounded 143 people in preliminary totals. The Associated Press put the total at 82, which would make it the bloodiest day this year.
They came one day after an audio message attributed to Al Qaeda in Iraq promised a new offensive, which it called Breaking Down Walls.
In sheer number of attacks, and with reports of new ones continuing to come in from provinces in northern and central Iraq, the offensive was without precedent this year, and was sure to raise concerns about the government’s ability to contain the violence six months after the last American troops left the country.
"We are returning again to dominate territories we used to dominate, as well as more," the Al Qaeda statement said.
The first attack came about 5 a.m. Monday when gunmen stormed onto an Iraqi military base near the town of Duluiyah in Salahuddin Province and killed 15 Iraqi soldiers, according to security officials. Four soldiers, including a high-ranking officer, were wounded, and a fifth was taken prisoner by the insurgents, who escaped with him.
Then in quick succession, car bombs were set off at places from Taji and Husseiniya north of Baghdad, to Sadr City in eastern Baghdad, and Tuz in western Salahuddin province, Dujail in southern Salhuddin, and Balad, northeast of the capital, according to accounts from local police, hospital and Iraqi Army officials.
The insurgents also attacked the home of a police official in Balad, seriously wounding four family members, and ambushed a checkpoint near Baquba, killing one policeman.
The attacks were likely to continue the trend of the first six months since the departure of American troops, when violence has steadily increased, according to United Nations statistics. June was one of the deadliest months so far, with about 200 people, mostly civilian pilgrims, reported killed.
Unusually, none of the attackers were suicide bombers. Authorities in Salahuddin Province, which seemed to be the worst hit area, said they also managed to defuse two car bombs and three roadside bombs without harm.
Rod Nordland reported from Cairo.