At least 29 killed in wave of suicide attacks in Iraq

ISIS militants unleashed on Monday a wave of suicide attacks across Iraq, killing at least 29 people and wounding dozens, officials said.

The deadliest attack took place in the southern province of Dhi Qar when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a restaurant that is frequented by Shia paramilitary militia fighters, killing at least 14 people.

Another 27 people were wounded in the attack that targeted a famous restaurant on the main highway that links Baghdad with the southern provinces, a police officer said. Dhi Qar is located about 320 km southeast of the capital.

At around the same time, a suicide car bomber set off his explosives-laden car in a commercial area in the oil-rich city of Basra, killing at least five people and wounding 10 others, another police officer said.

Pieces of flesh and debris littered the bloodstained pavement as thick black smoke billowed from the area. The attack also damaged up to 30 cars. Basra is located about 550 km southeast of Baghdad.

Earlier in the day, a suicide bomber rammed his car into a security checkpoint in Baghdad’s northeastern suburb of Sadr al-Qanat, killing six troops and wounding 13 others.

Another suicide car bomber hit a headquarters of paramilitary troops in the town of Mishahda, 30 km north of Baghdad, killing four troops and wounding 10 others.