Accessibility links

Breaking News

Iraqi Attack On Shi'ite Families Kills 16


Bombings such as this car bomb in Talibiya in Baghdad are standard procedure in Sunni-Shi'ite violence (file photo)
Bombings such as this car bomb in Talibiya in Baghdad are standard procedure in Sunni-Shi'ite violence (file photo)
Gunmen have attacked two Shi'ite families in a largely Sunni area south of Baghdad, killing 16. The attack took place shortly before midnight in the town of Al-Latifiyah.

Iraqi officials said the gunmen first opened fire on the two houses and then blew them up. Six children, five women, and five men were killed, while nine people were wounded. No one has claimed responsibility.

An increase in violence between Iraq's minority Sunni Muslims and Shi'a has sparked fears of a return to the sectarian fighting that engulfed the country after the 2003 U.S. invasion and peaked in 2006-07.

According to UN figures released earlier this week, more than 4,000 people have been killed in Iraq over the past five months, including more than 800 killed just last month.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AP

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG