15 dead in Iraq suicide bombings

Suicide bombings claimed by the Islamic State group killed 15 people yesterday in an oasis town south of Baghdad and the city of Fallujah to its west, officials said.

The attacks come as Iraqi forces battle IS in the northern city of Mosul, the last major population centre the jihadists hold in the country.

IS has carried out a series of attacks in other areas since the operation to retake Mosul was launched on October 17 in an apparent bid to draw attention and possibly troops away from the city.

Masum al-Tamimi, a member of the Karbala provincial council, said six suicide bombers armed with light weapons as well as explosives tried to infiltrate Ain al-Tamer early yesterday.