Twenty-five people have been killed in a fresh bout of violence in Iraq as the United Nations expresses concern about growing militancy in the country.A large group of militants attempted on Tuesday to take control of security positions in the towns of Rawa and Aana in the western province of Anbar, Deputy Interior Minister Adnan al-Assadi told reporters.
They also attacked the house of a local official in Aana. The official escaped the attack unscathed but his brother was killed in the incident, along with seven police forces.
Assadi also said security forces have killed six of the militants and that SWAT units have been deployed to the area.
Elsewhere, soldiers clashed with militants in the Hamreen area north of Baghdad.
Four militants were killed in the fighting, which also left two soldiers dead and nine others wounded.
A helicopter pilot was wounded by gunfire in the operation, during which two militants were arrested and several weapons were seized.
Attacks in the northern province of Nineveh also killed three people. Two others were also killed in another attack in the Babil Province, south of Baghdad.
Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees expressed concern about growing violence in Iraq, warning that the new spate of attacks would result in further internal displacement of civilians.
The world body put the number of displaced Iraqis by this years bombings and other attacks at about 5,000, with people mostly fleeing from Baghdad into Anbar and Salahuddin provinces.
On Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said that attacks in Iraq aimed to "reignite sectarian strife" and divide the country.
More than 630 people have been killed so far this month and over 4,450 since the beginning of 2013, according to an AFP death toll.
By Press TV
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