Systemic Violence in Iraq Ready to ‘Explode’
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iStockphoto/Thinkstock(BAGHDAD) — The international community is deeply concerned that the recent spate of violent episodes in Iraq triggered by simmering sectarian tensions could explode into a full-blown civil war.
Since late April, when government forces raided a Sunni encampment looking for militants, the situation in Iraq has begun to resemble the bitter conflict between Shiites and Sunnis from 2006-2008, which nearly tore apart the fledgling government set up by the U.S.
Thursday was no different from recent days, with dozens of killings reported in Iraq and Baghdad once again jolted by a series of car bombings that left more than 10 people dead and 41 wounded.
In the Sunni-dominated Anbar province, Gov. Qassim Mohammed Abid narrowly escaped an assassination attempt when roadside bombs were detonated near his convoy in Ramadi.
Abid is no stranger to violence, having lost his left hand in 2009 during one of the several attacks directed at him.
With bombings and gunfire seemingly happening everywhere in the country, the United Nations special representative to Iraq is urging Iraqi leaders to take more action before the situation spins totally out of their control.
Speaking in Baghdad, Martin Kobler said, “Systemic violence is ready to explode at any moment if all Iraqi leaders do not engage immediately to pull the country out of this mayhem.”
May’s death toll is at or near 500, with many of the fatalities coming in the latter part of the month.
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