Attacks that rang out across Iraq brought to mind similar attacks that happened at roughly the same time last year. Those attacks were meant to shake the confidence of the Iraqi people but so far, these most recent attacks have not been claimed by any particular group. The attacks, some focusing on police and security forces have been accomplished by several means, including suicide attacks, roadside bombs and shootings in various locations all across the Iraqi nation.

Officials are calling this the worst wave of violence, ironically timed at the middle of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. A web site has praised these attacks but stopped short of assigning any of the responsibility.

Just a few weeks ago, Iraqi leaders had asked the United States to allow troops to remain beyond the original, January 1 deadline for further training and assistance. Muqtada al Sadr, an Iraqi Shiite cleric has been opposed to the US presence in the country from the beginning and warned his countrymen of “challenges “that would be presented if the US was asked to stay for any longer. Nothing has been finalized, but most assume that the US will agree to some level of extension.

Several cities have instituted curfews and parking bans after car bombs have rocked the streets. Tikrit, which is north of Baghdad is one city that is not longer allowing cars to park in certain areas because of fatal attacks there. Two suicide bombs detonated, those attacks apparently directed at the Security forces in the city. At least four police officers were killed in those attacks and nearly a dozen others were wounded. In Kut, a car bomb followed by a roadside bomb killed nearly forty people during the morning rush hour there. Almost seventy people were also wounded.

Another bomb near a police station killed eight people and wounded twenty others in Twaeej. Police were also wounded in Kirkuk when a motorcycle that had been detained exploded. Shortly before that explosion, a car bomb went off and killed one person near that same location.

There was a suicide car bomber that attacked an Iraqi army based near the city of Khan Bani Saad. That bomb killed eight people and injured twenty one others but there was no details about whether it was Iraqi soldiers that were hurt or killed. Thirteen people were killed in Baquba following two bombings and several shootings. Roadside bombs exploded in Mosul, wounding five.

In the city of Anbar, an unnamed man who was making a bomb inside of his home, made a mistake which killed his five year old son as well as wounding his wife and three other children. That man was later arrested.

Iraqi security officials as well as the Interior Ministry have vowed that they will catch whoever is behind this wave of violence and death and will put an end to it by any means that are necessary.