In brazen attacks carried out by insurgents, on Sunday, in Iraq, at least 47 people were killed across the country. This is the worst spate of killing since 2008 and is seen as part of a month-long wave of attacks. The killing has brought the focus back on the country's security forces' ability to protect the country against insurgent groups. It raises fears that Iraq's ethnic divide and sectarian violence may push the country back towards a civil war.

In one of the attacks, a car bomb blew up near a housing complex in the city of Baquba leaving 11 people dead. In another daring incident, suspected militants, in Mosul, ambushed and killed 5 soldiers who were reportedly in civilian clothes and returning to base from Baghdad, in two taxis. Militants are said to have set up a fake security checkpoint, captured five soldiers and shot them dead.

More attacks were reported from Madaen, Baghdad, Balad, Mosul and Baquba. Reports put the death toll at over 30. Most of the victims, who were killed on Sunday, were ordinary civilians. In an earlier incident, a suicide bomber killed 25 people at a busy Baghdad café, on Friday.

Although, no group has yet claimed responsibility for the series of bombs and shootings, the Sunni Islamist militants are suspected.

Reports say that attacks on civilians and security forces, have been on the rise in Iraq, since the deadly security crackdown in April 2013 on a Sunni protest camp. Following the crackdown, since April, insurgency against the Shi'ite-led government has gained momentum, resulting in the killing of more than 3,000 people in violence.

International experts fear that, with recent attacks, Iraq could see even deadlier bloodshed. Sectarian violence had brought the country to the edge of civil war in 2006 and 2007.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, vowed to press further with his anti-insurgency campaign. Several alleged militants have been reportedly arrested and dozens others killed during the campaign.