Amidst Political Crisis in Iraq, Sectarian Violence Intensifies

Iraq doesn’t feature much in US news headlines anymore.

Not since American troops withdrew from the country in December of 2011.

Even before that date, interest had begun waning, but these are troubled and bloody times in Iraq.

A wave of sectarian violence is sweeping the country.

More than 800 Iraqis have died in attacks since the beginning of January.

Half of whom were killed in the month of May alone.

Monday, a series of car bombings tore through mostly Shiite neighborhoods in the Baghdad area, leaving more than 60 people dead.

And Tuesday, a minibus and a suicide truck bomb killed at least seven more.

Jane Arraf, Iraq correspondent for The Christian Science Monitor, says Iraqis believe the intensifying violence is linked to the country’s political crisis.