Islamic State attacks government targets in Iraq's Kirkuk, kills 16October 21, 2016 - 10:56 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Gunmen wearing suicide vests attacked government targets in the Kurdish-controlled city of Kirkuk and killed 16 at an Iranian-run construction site further north on Friday, October 21 as troops advanced on jihadist bastion Mosul, AFP reports. The Islamic State group, which is attempting to defend its last major Iraqi tronghold against a massive military offensive, claimed the attacks in online statements, Reuters says. In one attack, three bombers infiltrated a power plant being built by an Iranian company near Dibis, a town about 40 kilometres northwest of Kirkuk, the mayor said. "Three suicide bombers attacked the power plant at around 6:00 am (0300 GMT), killing 12 Iraqi administrators and engineers and four Iranian technicians," Dibis mayor Abdullah Nureddin al-Salehi told AFP. A police lieutenant colonel confirmed the casualty toll. The mayor said the attack led to clashes with security forces, who managed to kill one of the bombers before he detonated his vest. The other two blew themselves up once they were surrounded, he said. Hours earlier, a commando of suicide bombers armed with rifles attacked multiple locations in Kirkuk, an ethnically divided city 240 kilometres (150 miles) north of Baghdad, security sources said. A Kurdish intelligence officer said four suicide bombers attacked the main police headquarters in the city at around 3:00 am (2400 GMT Thursday). "The security forces managed to shoot one of them dead, the other three blew themselves up," he said, according to AFP. Several other targets in the south of the city were attacked by what the officer said were members of IS, sparking clashes with security forces that were still ongoing five hours later. A Kirkuk official told AFP that a total curfew was slapped on the city. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |