The United States is asking Iraq to do more to protect its Christian community.

Christians are a minority in Iraq, and there's been a rapid increase of attacks against them this year.

At least a dozen Christians have been killed in the past few weeks in Mosul, which has remained violent even as attacks have dropped in other parts of the country.

More than 8,000 Christians have fled the northern Iraq city and have found refuge in nearby Christian villages.

The U.S. State Department is calling on the Iraqi government to do all it can to protect Christians against further persecution.

Islamic extremists have frequently targeted Christians and other religious minorities since the 2003 U.S. invasion.