IS claims suicide attacks targeting Iraqi forces

The Islamic State group said that five of its suicide bombers attacked Iraqi forces in Anbar province on Friday and that a sixth targeted pro-government fighters north of Baghdad.

IS said five bombers infiltrated and attacked a housing complex belonging to the Al-Asad military base in Anbar province, west of the capital, sparking hours of clashes with security forces before the militants detonated suicide belts.

The area was also hit with 50 Katyusha rockets, the jihadist group said in an online statement.

Iraqi army Major General Ali Ibrahim Daboun said there was an attack by eight suicide bombers in the area, but that security forces and tribal fighters foiled the assault and killed the jihadists.

IS also claimed another suicide attack against pro-government fighters east of the city of Tikrit, saying in an online statement that the bomber detonated an explosives-rigged armoured vehicle near a barracks.

An army colonel and a doctor said at least three pro-government fighters were killed and 10 wounded in the area, but the officer said the toll was from three suicide bombings, not one.

IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in June 2014, and while security forces have regained significant ground, the jihadists still carry out frequent attacks on both security forces and civilians.

Photo: People and security forces gather at the the site the aftermath of a suicide bomb attack in Baghdad in September last year (ctvnews.ca)