Updated

The United Nations says violence killed at least 1,119 Iraqis in March, a sharp increase from the previous month, as the Islamic State group stepped up attacks on civilians while suffering defeats on the battlefield.

The U.N. mission to Iraq, known as UNAMI, said in a statement Friday that 1,561 Iraqis were wounded last month.

The figures include 575 civilians killed and another 1,196 wounded. The other casualties were Iraqi security forces.

The worst-hit area was the capital, Baghdad, with 259 civilians killed and 770 wounded, followed by the northern Ninevah province, which is almost entirely controlled by IS, with 133 killed and 89 wounded.

In February, there were 670 Iraqis killed and 1,290 wounded.