A pentagon assessment of security conditions in Iraq concluded on Monday that attacks against American and Iraqi targets had surged this summer and autumn to their highest level.

The report calls violence by Shi’ite militants as the most significant threat in Baghdad.

Covering the period from early August to early November, it found an average of almost 960 attacks against Americans and Iraqis every week, the highest level recorded since the Pentagon began issuing quarterly reports in 2005. The biggest surge in attacks has been against American-led forces. According to the Pentagon, the weekly average of 959 attacks was a jump of 175 from the previous three months. This is an increase of 22 per cent from the level for early May to early August.

As a consequence, civilian deaths and injuries reached a record 93 a day.

While most attacks were directed at American forces, most deaths and injuries were suffered by the Iraqi military and civilians.

The report is the most comprehensive public assessment of the American-led operation to secure Baghdad, which began in early August. About 17,000 American combat troops are currently involved in the beefed-up security operation.

According to the Pentagon assessment, the operation initially had some success in reducing killings as militants concentrated on eluding capture and hiding their weapons. But sectarian death squads soon adapted, resuming attacks in regions of the capital that were not initially targets.

Shi’ite militias, the Pentagon report said, also receive help from allies in the Iraqi police.

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