The death toll in a series of bombings today continued to rise, as Iraq faced the deadliest day since its celebration of “National Sovereignty Day” marked the formal pullback of US troops from the nations cities. Nearly 90 Iraqis have been killed in the past 48 hours, and over 250 wounded.

The biggest single incident was the bombing in Tal Afar, in which bombers dressed in police uniforms attacked a residential neighborhood, killing at least 36 and wounding 84 others. Other bombings today hit Sadr City and Kirkuk.

373 civilians were killed in Iraq in June, nearly triple the number killed in the comparatively quiet month of May. Most of the June deaths came in the second half of the month, and those hoping the spate of high profile bombings in late June were an aberration need only look at the last two days to see the violence is enduring.

Despite the rising death toll, US officials continue to maintain that there is significant progress in Iraq’s security situation. It is never explained, however, how the security situation has managed to become so disconnected with the civilian body count.

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