Suicide Bomber Kills 27 Shi'ite Militiamen In Town Near Baghdad: Police
Monday, 27 October 2014 (6 hours ago)
Army and police sources said, a suicide bomber killed at least 27 Shi'ite militiamen on the outskirts of the Iraqi town of Jurf al-Sakhar on Monday, a day after security forces pushed Islamic State militants out the area. The attacker, driving an army vehicle packed with explosives, also wounded 60 Shi'ite militiamen, who had helped government forces retake the town just south of the capital.
Suicide car bomber strikes Iraqi town after battles to drive back Islamic State
A suicide attacker driving an apparently looted Humvee triggered a blast Monday outside an Iraqi town where government forces recently drove back Islamic State militants, reports said. At least 24 people were killed and dozens injured.
The town, Jurf al-Sakhar, about 40 miles southwest of Baghdad, has been the scene of heavy battles for several days against entrenched Islamic State fighters, who had held the area since July as another foothold close to the Iraqi capital.
The area also is a critical route ahead of annual Shiite religious pilgrimages. The Islamic State, which considers Shiites apostates, is expected to attempt to target the observances that culminate in nearly November.
Iraqi military units — backed by Shiite militias — said they reclaimed the town after offensives began late last week. The Islamic State fighters, however, appeared to strike back Monday with a bomb-rigged Humvee, reports said.
The Associated Press quoted police and medical officials saying at least 24 people were killed when the vehicle — presumably captured from the Iraqi military — detonated at a checkpoint guarded by Shiite militiamen. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to media.
The Reuters news agency, also citing police sources, reported at least 27 were killed.
Jurf al-Sakhar is part of predominantly Sunni territory that runs just south of Baghdad. Shiite pilgrims traditionally past through the area en route to the holy city of Karbala.
Iraqi forces and allied militias — aided by U.S.-led airstrikes — have tried to push back Islamic State fighters from areas near Baghdad as part of wider battles against the militants across Iraq and Syria.
Warplanes from the United States and allies carried out at least four airstrikes since Sunday in Iraq, including Islamic State strongholds near Fallujah, west of Baghdad, and the oil refinery hub of Baiji to the north of the capital, U.S. Central Command said.
In Syria, U.S. airstrike concentrated on Islamic State targets around the town of Kobane near the Turkish border. American air attacks have increased sharply around Kobane in attempts to weaken Islamic State fighters battling the Syrian Kurdish defenders.
Brian Murphy joined the Post after more than 20 years as a foreign correspondent and bureau chief for the Associated Press in Europe and the Middle East. He has reported from more than 50 countries and has written three books.