Suicide bomb in Baghdad kills at least 18: medics
Ultra-hardline militants of Islamic State frequently set off bombs in capital and further afield
A file photo of people gathered at a site of car bomb attack in Baghdad. PHOTO: REUTERS
BAGHDAD:
At least 18 people were killed and 41 wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the funeral of a pro-government Shia Muslim fighter in Baghdad on Friday, Iraqi police and medical sources said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast at a mosque in the predominately Shia neighbourhood of Hay al-Amil.
Iraqi military says begins clearing Islamic State from Ramadi
The ultra-hardline Sunni militants of Islamic State who control large parts of Iraq's north and west frequently set off bombs in the capital and further afield.
The funeral was for a member of the Hashid Shaabi, a government umbrella group comprised mostly of Shi'ite fighters seen as a critical force in the battle against Islamic State.
Iraq has been afflicted by sectarian conflict mainly between Shia and Sunni Muslims since shortly after the US-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003.
Islamic State in Libya fights to emulate Iraq, Syria success
The rise of Islamic State has exacerbated those tensions and prompted US-led air strikes on the militants in areas of Iraq and neighbouring Syria where the extremists aim to establish a modern-day caliphate.
At least 18 people were killed and 41 wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the funeral of a pro-government Shia Muslim fighter in Baghdad on Friday, Iraqi police and medical sources said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast at a mosque in the predominately Shia neighbourhood of Hay al-Amil.
Iraqi military says begins clearing Islamic State from Ramadi
The ultra-hardline Sunni militants of Islamic State who control large parts of Iraq's north and west frequently set off bombs in the capital and further afield.
The funeral was for a member of the Hashid Shaabi, a government umbrella group comprised mostly of Shi'ite fighters seen as a critical force in the battle against Islamic State.
Iraq has been afflicted by sectarian conflict mainly between Shia and Sunni Muslims since shortly after the US-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003.
Islamic State in Libya fights to emulate Iraq, Syria success
The rise of Islamic State has exacerbated those tensions and prompted US-led air strikes on the militants in areas of Iraq and neighbouring Syria where the extremists aim to establish a modern-day caliphate.