Suicide Car Bombing Kills At least 11 In Western Iraq

A suicide car bomber has targeted a security checkpoint in western Iraq, killing at least 11 people and wounding 16, officials say.

The attacker drove an explosives-rigged vehicle into a checkpoint in the town of Qaim in Anbar Province, Mayor Ahmed al-Mehlawy said on August 29.

The checkpoint was manned jointly by the army and government-backed Shi'ite militias, he added.

Those killed and wounded included security personnel and civilians.

Some of the wounded were said to be in critical condition.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Qaim lies 340 some kilometers west of Baghdad and some 20 kilometers from the Syrian border.

It was one of the last towns in Iraq to be recaptured from the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in November last year.

Iraq declared victory over IS fighters in December.

Members of the group have since waged a campaign of kidnappings and killings.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP