(RTTNews) - The civilian death toll in war-related violence in Iraq for the month of November was at its lowest levels since the U.S. led invasion in 2003, said officials on Tuesday.
According to estimates collected by the Iraqi health ministry, the civilian death toll in war-related violence in November stood at 88, much lower than the death toll of 343 in October, when a major bombing in Baghdad killed over 155 people.
This is the first time the monthly death toll has fallen below 100, while the previous lowest level recorded was in September when some 125 people were killed in various attacks. The lower death toll in November was mainly due to the lack of any major attacks during the month.
Officials, on condition of anonymity, said 32 members of Iraqi security forces were also killed in November, taking the total death toll for the month, including security deaths, to 120. However, further attacks are anticipated in Iraq ahead of next parliamentary election.
The losses suffered by U.S. forces in Iraq also remained low in November, with only three American soldiers killed in incidents of violence. Including November, U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq since the invasion in 2003 now totals 3,478.
Although the incidence of violence in Iraq has fallen steeply over the past year after the introduction of U.S.-backed local anti-al-Qaeda groups known as Awakening Councils, the U.S. forces in Iraq believe the al-Qaeda network in Iraq to be still capable of carrying out major attacks despite having been forced out of most regions.
In addition, there has been an increase in violence following the withdrawal of U.S. forces from towns and cities of Iraq in June, with responsibilities of urban security now resting with Iraqi forces. The 130,000 combat troops of the U.S. army have since been relocated to rural bases in Iraq, some six years after the invasion. The relocation is in line with a bilateral security agreement to pullout all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.
by RTT Staff Writer
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