A series of explosions across Iraq killed 22 people and injured dozen more according to government officials.

The deadliest single attack killed seven in a small town south of Baghdad. Give were killed when a car bomb targeted Shia pilgrims in a part of Baghdad.

Several of the bombings targeted security forces. In one of the assaults, a bomb exploded next to a rocket that was being dismantled by security troops. Two policemen were killed and four civilians injured in that attack.

The attacks appear to be increasing as Arbaeen, an important religious date to Shia Muslims approaches.

The Iraqi government is also in a heated dispute over oil and territory between Baghdad and the Kurdish region in the northern part of the state.