Overnight attacks in Iraq kill at least 16 people

Attacks overnight in two Iraqi cities killed at least 16 people, officials said on July 21 as authorities struggle to stop the Sunni militants' offensive that has left huge areas in northern and western Iraq outside of government control.

In one of the attacks, mortar rounds rained down on Shiite neighborhoods in the town of Mahmoudiya on Sunday night, killing 11 civilians and wounding 31, a police official said. The mixed Shiite-Sunni town is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) south of Baghdad.

And in Baghdad's western suburb of Abu Ghraib, a roadside bomb struck an army patrol, killing two soldiers and three volunteers who took up arms following the Sunni militant push across Iraq in recent weeks. Eighth people were wounded in that attack, said the police official.

By Ruchi Singh

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com

Overnight attacks in Iraq kill at least 16 people

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