Wave of bomb attacks in Baghdad kills 37 people

A wave of bomb attacks around Baghdad killed 37 people and wounded dozens more on Tuesday, as at least seven explosions struck in or near the Iraqi capital, police and medical sources said.

In the deadliest incidents, 24 people were killed in two blasts in Jisr Diyala district, southeast of the city.

The sources said the first bomb went off in a commercial area near restaurants, shops and street stalls.

Police tried to prevent people gathering at the scene, but shortly afterwards a car bomb was detonated in the same area. Three of those killed in the second blast were police, they said.

Earlier, five other explosions hit northern and southern neighbourhoods, the sources said.

Islamic State

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, which come as Iraqi security forces continue to battle Islamic State militants controlling large areas of north and west Iraq who have claimed many recent bombings in Baghdad.

In the western province of Anbar, Iraqi troops backed by Shia militia and tribal fighters are trying to drive Islamic State fighters out of al-Baghdadi on the Euphrates River.

The town is just 5km east of the Ain al-Asad airbase where US Marines are training Iraqi forces for a larger offensive against Islamic State.

A US official said last week an assault to recapture the northern city of Mosul, the largest city under Islamic State control, would probably be launched in April or May.

Iraqi military officials have declined to confirm such a timetable.

Iraqi troops and militia forces have been gathering for an expected offensive against the militants further south in Salahuddin province, between Baghdad and Mosul.

Reuters