13 killed in suicide bombing attacks in Iraq

Two bombings targeting the Iraqi military killed 13 people, including six soldiers, south of Baghdad on Saturday, officials said.

Police officials said a suicide bomber drove his explosives-laden car into an army checkpoint in the town of Youssifiyah, killing 11 people, including four soldiers, and wounding at least 24 people. Several cars were burnt in the attack.

Youssifiyah is 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Baghdad.

Medical officials confirmed the casualty figures. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Iraq has faced an onslaught by Sunni insurgents since early this year, as the extremist Islamic State group and allied militants have taken over large areas in the country’s west and north.