At least nine people were killed in Baghdad late on Monday in a car bomb attack claimed by Islamic State near a hospital in a central district, police and hospital sources said.
Terror group claims suicide bomb that kills 9 in central Baghdad
The police and hospital sources said 20 people were also wounded in the blast and they expected the death toll to rise.
ISIS soldiers
Recommended articles
![Troublemaker removed from a plane (image used for illustrative purpose) [Shutterstock]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20width%3D'100'%20height%3D'100'%20data-ring-placeholder%3D'1'%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "Troublemaker removed from a plane (image used for illustrative purpose) [Shutterstock]")
A suicide bomber had targeted a gathering of Shi'ite Muslims in the Karrada district, according to a statement circulated online by the Amaq news agency, which supports the ultra-hardline Sunni militant group.
The fight against Islamic State, which seized a third of Iraq's territory in 2014, has exacerbated a long-running sectarian conflict in Iraq, mostly between the Shi'ite majority and the Sunni minority.
The militants have lost ground in the past year to U.S.-backed government forces and Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias, but such bombings show they can still strike outside the territory they control in northern and western Iraq.
ADVERTISEMENT
Monday's blast occurred not far from the site of an Islamic State suicide attack in July that killed 324 people in one of the deadliest bombings of its sort in Iraq since U.S.-led forces toppled Saddam Hussein 13 years ago.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng
Recommended articles
Comparing comprehensive vs third-party auto insurance in Nigeria
Kaduna Speaker to El-Rufai's son: Your threat won't stop us from probing your father
Makinde demolishes building where Yoruba Nation agitators operate from
APC chieftain, Lukman faults NWC for backing Ganduje over suspension
EFCC gets permission to drag ex-governor Yahaya Bello to court tomorrow
Court stops EFCC from arresting Yahaya Bello hours after agents surrounded his house
Tinubu hails Dangote's diesel price cut, expects economic boost
'Is this relevant?' - Nigerians react as Gov Adeleke signs bill for new Osun State logo
Why donated blood is not free for patients
Pulse Sports
Lionel Messi's son breaks the internet after scoring five goals for Inter Miami
Naija Stars Abroad: Onyedika, Boniface, and Osimhen shine across Europe
Victor Osimhen and Tobi Amusan make list of Forbes’ 30 under 30 Class of 2024
ADVERTISEMENT
