Car bomb claimed by Islamic State kills 7 in western Iraq
BAGHDAD — Seven people were killed Wednesday in a suicide car bombing claimed by the Islamic State group in a former stronghold of the jihadists in western Iraq, a security official said.
The attacker detonated his explosives-laden vehicle at a joint security checkpoint managed by the Iraqi army and the Popular Mobilization Forces at the southern entrance to the town of al-Qaim, about 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the Syrian border, Maj. Gen Qasem al-Dulaimi said.
He said four security forces and three civilians were killed in the blast.
Al-Dulaimi blamed IS for the attack, and the group, through its Aamaq news agency, later claimed responsibility in posts it circulated on social media.