“The United Nations deplores the continuing loss of civilian life resulting from acts of terrorism and armed conflict,” said the Chief Human Rights Officer of UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), Francesco Motta.

“Of equal concern is the toll on members of Iraq’s security forces who are called upon on a daily basis to combat terrorism and violence and to protect the lives of civilians and civilian infrastructure,” he added.

According to UNAMI, at least 229 civilians were killed and a further 853 were wounded in acts of terrorism and armed violence in Iraq during March. A further 227 members of the Iraqi security forces were killed and 300 were wounded as a result of such attacks.

Iraq continues to suffer from attacks perpetrated by a number of terrorist groups, among them Al-Qaida in Iraq and the Islamic State of Iraq. Over the past month, the UN has repeatedly condemned the wave of attacks against protesters, media professionals and other civilians.

Violence in recent weeks has also affected the run-up to the local elections, which will be held across the country on 20 April. Attacks have reportedly killed at least 10 candidates and the Iraqi cabinet recently decided to postpone the polls in Anbar and Ninewa for a maximum period of six months, due to security concerns.

The violence has also affected civilian infrastructure. The most affected areas remain Baghdad, the capital, and the governorates of Anbar, Salahuddin and the disputed areas of Ninewa and Kirkuk, UNAMI said in a news release.

“They [Council members] expressed their deep sympathy and sincere condolences to the families of the victims of these heinous acts and to the people of Syria,” added Ambassador Gert Rosenthal of Guatemala, which holds the Presidency of the Security Council for the month of October, in a statement he read out to the media at UN Headquarters in New York.

In the press statement, the Council noted that Jebhat al-Nusra – an Islamist militant group affiliated with the Al-Qaida terrorist group – had claimed responsibility for the attack.

According to media reports, at least two car bombs exploded on Wednesday in Aleppo’s main Saadallah al-Jabiri Square and another bomb exploded a few hundred metres away, killing at least 48 people.

“The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed,” Ambassador Rosenthal said in the press statement.

In addition, the Council members reiterated their determination to combat all forms of terrorism, in accordance with its responsibilities under the UN Charter.

They also reminded States that they must ensure that measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law.