UPDATED: Car bombing kills, wounds at least 20 at Anbar joint checkpoint

Local media outlets using security sources earlier reported that nearly 30 were wounded or killed in the attack

Kurdistan 24 2018/08/29 07:37

middle east Anbar Iraq Sucide Attack ISIS Al-Qaim

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Nearly 20 Iraqi security forces were killed or wounded during a car bombing on Wednesday at a joint-checkpoint of militia groups and Iraqi security forces in Anbar Province, Reuters reported.

Local media outlets quoting various security sources earlier reported that casualties in the incident were as high as 30. The checkpoint is located near the entrance to the city of al-Qaim, in Anbar's western frontier with Syria.

Al-Qaim was one of the last towns in Iraq still occupied by the Islamic State (IS) in November 2017.

Local officials speaking to Reuters reported eight deaths and 12 injuries, most of whom were security guards at the checkpoint, and added that the death toll could rise since some of the wounded were in critical condition.

A source told Shafaaq news that 21 were killed and nine were injured and also claimed that three of the dead were civilians, three Iraqi security forces, and 15 were members of the Hashd al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

Later on Wednesday, IS announced through Amaq—a media outlet associated with the terrorist organization—that they were responsible for the attack and claimed they had killed 28.

Despite Iraq declaring “final victory” over the militants last December, the group continues to launch insurgency-style operations, kidnappings, and ambushes.

Editing by John J. Catherine