More than a dozen explosions shook the country of Iraq Thursday as violence continues in the war-torn region.

Attacks in Iraq have been steadily increasing since the withdrawal of American troops after the extended war ended.

No one has come forward to claim responsibility for the deadly attacks that took the lives of at 22 and wounded dozens of others, but the attacks resemble earlier attacks that were carried out by al-Qaeda earlier in the month. There is a possibility that the attacks were conducted by other radical Sunni Islamic groups in the country however.

The attacks included overnight attacks on police checkpoints around the city of Baquba and Falluja. Those attacks killed six policemen and wounded 13 according to reports out of Iraq.

Car bombs killed another six and wounded an additional 28 in the Shia district of Husainiya. Meanwhile four car bombs killed two and wounded 18 in Kirkuk.

These recent attacks are seen as attempts by the Sunni sect in the country to re-ignite the secrtarian violence against the Shiite-led government.

The country has increased its security as Islam’s Holy Fasting Month of Ramadan comes to a close next week.