Violence has claimed the lives of 2,417 Iraqis in June, making it the deadliest month so far this year, the United Nations said on Tuesday, underlining the daunting challenge the Government faces as it struggles to confront Islamic extremists who have seized large swaths of territory in the north and west.
The figures issued by the UN mission to Iraq put last month’s civilian death toll at 1,531, with 886 security forces killed. UNAMI added that 2,287 Iraqis, including 1,763 civilians, were wounded. The figures exclude deaths in embattled Anbar province, which is largely controlled by Sunni militants.