At Least 33 Troops Killed in ISIS Attacks in Central Iraq

ISIS Says Attacks Targeted Iraqi Military, Police Trainers

Weekend attacks by ISIS fighters backed by suicide bombers tore through Iraqi bases outside of Tikrit and Haditha, killing at least 33 security forces and wounding 22 others.

The first attack involved a strike against Camp Spiecher, near Tikrit, where five suicide bombers forced their way into a police training facility. Two bombers destroyed the gate, and the other three detonated in crowds, killing at least 15 and wounding 22.

The second attack was in Haditha, and while details were less specific on the attack itself, ISIS officials described this as targeting “trainers from the rejectionist army” as well, a term they often use to describe the Shi’ite government.

After losing most of the Anbar capital of Ramadi last week, ISIS launched a mass vehicle bombing attack against an Iraqi base near Ramadi on Friday, and seems to be picking up the pace in suicide attacks elsewhere in the area. Iraqi officials are presenting this as a sign of weakness.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.