IS suicide bomber’s belt explodes, kills 12 well-wishing comrades in Diyala
Explosive belt.
Diyala police chief Jassem al-Saadi said in a statement that twelve IS militants in Mekheisa region, northeast of Baqubah, were bidding farewell to a comrade who was on his way for a suicide attack. Saadi said that the explosive belt on the bomber’s body went off to kill well-wishers instead.
The incident occurred during what the rite which the group dubs “blood party”, according to Saadi.
Islamic State suicide bombers have escalated suicide and gun attacks against security forces and civilians over the past months as Iraqi government forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition, proceed with a major offensive to drive the group out of its main stronghold in Iraq; Mosul.
Violence and armed conflicts left 824 Iraqis dead and wounded during the month of May, according to a monthly count by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq which excludes security members deaths.
Some security observers believe that even after IS’s main havens across Iraqi provinces are conquered, the group may still constitute a security threat through sleeper cells and lone wolf attacks. They believe attacks outside Mosul are designed to make up for the group’s losses there.