On 25 August 2010, a string of attacks in Iraqi cities including Al-Muqdadiya, Kut, Baghdad, Fallujah, Tikrit, Kerbala, Kirkuk, Basra, Ramadi, Dujail, Mosul and Iskandariyah targeting mostly Iraqi security forces and checkpoints left at least 53 people dead and more than 270 injured.
[1][2] A scheduled speech by U.S. President Barack Obama will take note of the withdrawal of U.S. forces on the planned date of 31 August; the next day the U.S. mission will officially be renamed 'Operation New Dawn' from 'Operation Iraqi Freedom' in a ceremony at a U.S. base near the Baghdad airport.
"[3] The attacks were made in 13[clarification needed] cities and spanned the length of Iraq, from Mosul in the north to Basra in the far south of the country.
Islamic State of Iraq organization claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying that during "the month of fasting and jihad [we launched a] new earth-shaking wave [targeting] headquarters, centres and security barriers for the army and apostate police.
"[7] Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, issued a statement laying blame for the attacks.