Dozen killed in militant attacks north of Tikrit
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which is the first of its kind since the city was retaken from ISIS in April 2015.
Twelve people were killed on Saturday when militants attacked a police checkpoint north of Tikrit and then detonated a car bomb at the entrance to the city, Iraqi police and military sources said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, the first of its kind since the city, 150 km (95 miles) north of Baghdad, was retaken from ISIS in April 2015.
One militant was killed at the checkpoint after shooting dead four police officers in the attack at around 5 a.m. (0200 GMT), according to police and sources from Salahuddin Operations Command, which is responsible for security in the area.
Two other militants continued about 7 km to the city limits and detonated the explosives in their pickup truck, killing eight people and wounding 23, the sources said.
An unverified photograph shared on social media showed two dark plumes of smoke rising into the sky near arches at the city’s northern gates.
After the attacks, police tightened security in Tikrit, which already had some of the most restrictive security measures in place following its recapture from ISIS. It was not clear if other assailants were still in the area.
The military this week retook the district of Shirqat, 100 km north of Tikrit, from ISIS in preparation for a move on the northern city of Mosul later this year.
[vuukle]
Related articles across the web
.::. Stories You May Like to Read .::.
Facing defeat in Mosul, ISIS mounts diversionary attack to the south
U.S. general seeks Turkish role in Mosul fight
Abadi criticizes ‘slow’ support for Iraqi army
Iraqi army threatens to ‘crush’ ISIS if they approach Kirkuk
Mosul celebrates first post-ISIS Christmas
‘9,000-plus died in battle with Daesh for Mosul’
Iraq holding 1,400 foreign wives, children of suspected ISIS fighters
Iraqi military finds grave sites of ISIS victims
Iraqi forces seize five more villages in Tal Afar offensive
Iraq announces start of air bombing campaign on ISIS-held Tal Afar
Loading ...
You must be logged in to post a comment.