BAGHDAD – Gunmen killed six people in Iraq on Saturday, raiding two homes in a northern city in yet another bout of violence to strike the country in what has become a particularly bloody month.

Provincial police officials described the slayings in Mosul as "terrorist attacks." They are still investigating why gunmen stormed the houses, killing a husband and wife and two others in the first attack, and two men in the second house.

Attacks have picked up in recent weeks, with nearly 200 people killed since the start of August. On Thursday, a relentless assault across the country killed at least 93 people and wounded many more. It was the second deadliest day in Iraq since U.S. troops left in December.