Over 700 people killed in violence, armed conflict in Iraq in July: UN

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said Monday that 759 Iraqis were killed and 1,207 others wounded in terrorism, violence and armed conflicts in July across Iraq.

The figures included 629 civilians killed and 1,061 wounded, while 130 security members were killed and 146 wounded, the UNAMI said in a statement.

The UNAMI figures excluded the casualties in Iraq's western province of Anbar, as it has not been able to obtain the civilian casualty figures from the provincial health department for the month, the statement said.

The statement said the UN envoy to Iraq and the UNAMI chief Jan Kubis "reiterated his call on the parties to undertake every effort to protect the lives of civilians."

"The number of casualties as a result of terrorism, violence and conflict in Iraq continues to remain high. We continue to deplore this unacceptable situation and look forward to the day, hopefully soon, when peace and tranquility will return to Iraq," Kubis said.

Iraq has witnessed intense violence since the IS took control of parts of its northern and western regions in June 2014.

Many blame the current chronic instability, cycle of violence, and the emergence of extremist groups such as the IS group on the United States, which invaded Iraq in March 2003 under the pretext of seeking to destroy weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in the country.

The war led to the ouster and eventual execution of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, but no WMD was found. Endit