Iraq military: Many feared dead in terrorist attack in north

<p>Baghdad, Jul 31 (AP): An attack on a funeral procession in northern Iraq has claimed a number of victims, Iraq's military said in a statement Friday.</p><p>The military said the “terrorist” attack in the province of Salahaddin resulted in a “number of victims” but did not provide specific figures.</p><p>An Iraqi security official said eight people had been killed, among them police and civilians, and that armed militants had opened fire on the crowd.</p><p>The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity said the attack had been perpetrated by the Islamic State group.</p><p>The death toll could not be immediately confirmed. The military said it will provide details once an investigation is complete.</p><p>Northern Iraq has been a hotspot for IS activity since their territorial defeat in 2017 by Iraqi security forces with assistance from the US-led coalition.</p><p>Iraqi forces routinely carry out anti-IS operations in the rugged mountainous northern region and the deserts of western Iraq where they are known to be holed up.</p><p>IS attacks have abated in recent years but continue in these areas where security forces are often the target of ambushes, raids and IEDs.</p><p>At times, IS has managed to launch attacks in the capital. At least 30 people were killed last week in a suicide bombing in the Baghdad suburb of Sadr City. The attack was claimed by IS. (AP) CPS</p><p><i>(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)</i></p>