Middle East

Al-Qaeda group claims attack on Iraqi soldiers

Armed raid on military camp leaves 15 troops dead

Iraqi security forces arrest suspected militants of the al Qaeda-linked Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), during clashes yesterday with Iraqi security forces in Jurf al-Sakhar, 60km from the capital Baghdad. Photograph: Alaa Al-Marjani/Reuters
Iraqi security forces arrest suspected militants of the al Qaeda-linked Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), during clashes yesterday with Iraqi security forces in Jurf al-Sakhar, 60km from the capital Baghdad. Photograph: Alaa Al-Marjani/Reuters
Sun Feb 16 2014 - 08:33

The main al-Qaeda breakaway group in Iraq has claimed responsibility for an audacious attack on a military camp that left 15 troops dead.

The troops were assigned to protect an oil pipeline that sends Iraqi crude oil to international markets and guard a nearby highway outside the northern city of Mosul when the attack occurred last Monday.

Eight of the soldiers were beheaded and the rest were killed by gunfire.

Along with the statement posted on a website commonly used by jihadists, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant put up an image of the beheading of one of the soldiers, as well as captured arms and vehicles.

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The authenticity of the statement could not be independently verified, but its style was consistent with previous statements.

AP