Bombers Strike in Baghdad, Basra; 82 Killed in Iraq

Updated at 12:59 p.m. EDT, May 20, 2017

President Fuad Masum described the destruction in Mosul as “horrendous,” and invited international help for the city’s rebuilding.

At least 82 were killed and 49 were wounded:

In Baghdad, two car bombs exploded in quick succession, killing 24 people, including four policemen, and wounding up to 25 more. A bomb in Suwaib killed one person and wounded three more. A clash between policemen and militiamen left two policemen dead. Gunmen killed an officer and wounded another.

Two suicide bombers blew themselves up at checkpoints on a highway near oil fields in Basra province. Two soldiers and a traffic policeman were killed. At least 30 more deaths were reported, including several civilians on a bus who died. The bus was carrying Iranian pilgrims. At least 10 people were injured. The bombings were at the Rumeila and Sadra checkpoints.

In Mosul, drones killed five policemen and wounded eight more. Mortars wounded two policemen. At least two dozen militants were killed in Rifaie and Zanjili.

A military photographer was killed in Qayrawan.

Gunmen killed a student in Baquba.

Read more by Margaret Griffis

Author: Margaret Griffis

Margaret Griffis is a journalist from Miami Beach, Florida and has been covering Iraqi casualties for Antiwar.com since 2006.