The Iraqi Islamic State Organization, affiliated to al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for 43 armed attacks in Anbar province, according to a statement posted on the organization's Haneen Web site.

According to the statement, most of the attacks occured in June and July last using explosives against the security forces in the province which covers one third of the total territory of Iraq.

Additionally, some army units were attacked by rockets and mortar shells, with the statement pointing out that a number of casualties were incurred.

It added that these attacks denote the return of the organization to areas they had previously left.

Iraqi officials believe that al-Qaeda organization is currently weaker in comparison to previous years, particularly 2006 and 2008, but is still capable of conducting effective attacks in different parts of the country.

The organization, formed in 2006, adopted a great number of attacks in Salahal-Din, Kirkuk, Ninewa, Anbar, Baghdad, Babil and Wasit that resulted in hundreds of casualties.















Aswat Al Iraq