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| Suicide car bomber strikes Iraqi town after battles to drive back Islamic State | Suicide car bomber strikes Iraqi town after battles to drive back Islamic State |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A suicide attacker driving an apparently looted Humvee triggered a blast Monday outside an Iraqi town where government forces recently drove back Islamic State militants, reports said. At least 24 people were killed and dozens injured. | A suicide attacker driving an apparently looted Humvee triggered a blast Monday outside an Iraqi town where government forces recently drove back Islamic State militants, reports said. At least 24 people were killed and dozens injured. |
| The town, Jurf al-Sakhar, about 40 miles southwest of Baghdad, has been the scene of heavy battles for several days against entrenched Islamic State fighters, who had held the area since July as another foothold close to the Iraqi capital. | The town, Jurf al-Sakhar, about 40 miles southwest of Baghdad, has been the scene of heavy battles for several days against entrenched Islamic State fighters, who had held the area since July as another foothold close to the Iraqi capital. |
| The area also is a critical route ahead of annual Shiite religious pilgrimages. The Islamic State, which considers Shiites apostates, is expected to attempt to target the observances that culminate in nearly November. | The area also is a critical route ahead of annual Shiite religious pilgrimages. The Islamic State, which considers Shiites apostates, is expected to attempt to target the observances that culminate in nearly November. |
| Iraqi military units — backed by Shiite militias — said they reclaimed the town after offensives began late last week. The Islamic State fighters, however, appeared to strike back Monday with a bomb-rigged Humvee, reports said. | Iraqi military units — backed by Shiite militias — said they reclaimed the town after offensives began late last week. The Islamic State fighters, however, appeared to strike back Monday with a bomb-rigged Humvee, reports said. |
| The Associated Press quoted police and medical officials saying at least 24 people were killed when the vehicle — presumably captured from the Iraqi military — detonated at a checkpoint guarded by Shiite militiamen. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to media. | The Associated Press quoted police and medical officials saying at least 24 people were killed when the vehicle — presumably captured from the Iraqi military — detonated at a checkpoint guarded by Shiite militiamen. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to media. |
| The Reuters news agency, also citing police sources, reported at least 27 were killed. | The Reuters news agency, also citing police sources, reported at least 27 were killed. |
| Jurf al-Sakhar is part of predominantly Sunni territory that runs just south of Baghdad. Shiite pilgrims traditionally past through the area en route to the holy city of Karbala. | Jurf al-Sakhar is part of predominantly Sunni territory that runs just south of Baghdad. Shiite pilgrims traditionally past through the area en route to the holy city of Karbala. |
| Iraqi forces and allied militias — aided by U.S.-led airstrikes — have tried to push back Islamic State fighters from areas near Baghdad as part of wider battles against the militants across Iraq and Syria. | Iraqi forces and allied militias — aided by U.S.-led airstrikes — have tried to push back Islamic State fighters from areas near Baghdad as part of wider battles against the militants across Iraq and Syria. |
| Warplanes from the United States and allies carried out at least four airstrikes since Sunday in Iraq, hitting Islamic State strongholds near Fallujah, west of Baghdad, and the oil refinery hub of Baiji north of the capital, the U.S. Central Command said. | |
| In Syria, U.S. airstrikes concentrated on Islamic State targets around the town of Kobane near the Turkish border. American air attacks have increased sharply around Kobane in attempts to weaken Islamic State fighters battling Syrian Kurdish defenders. |