Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility on Saturday (June 16th) for the wave of bombings that rocked eight Iraqi cities Wednesday, killing at least 77 Iraqis and wounding at least 238 others.

"Wednesday's blessed invasion included the detonation of 18 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and 18 car bombs, and six armed attacks in Hilla, Mosul, Karbala, Kirkuk, Diyala, Salah al-Din, Anbar and Baghdad," a statement posted to jihadist forums said.

The statement said the attacks will not be the last in Iraq.