It was reported by the Iraqi government that seven members of a government-backed militia were gunned down by gunmen dressed in military-issued uniforms on Friday.
The incident occurred in the nothern city of Tuz Khurmato. It was there that the gunmen gathered the militia members together at a checkpoint then transported them to another location, where they were shot. One of the militia members survived the shooting, but is very seriously wounded according to Iraq officials.
Although it is unknown at this time who carried out the attack, Iraqi officiaqls suspect al-Qaeda connected Sunni militants were involved as they have been responsible for similar attacks in the past.
It has been a tense week as bomb blasts have been carried out in Baghdad’s shi’ite districts. Those blasts have killed at least 28 and injured another 100.
The attack came two days after a fuel pipeline carrying oil from the country’s largest refinery to Nineveh was bombed for the second time in a week. The refinery had came back on line Saturday after the first attack.
Friday’s attack on militia members is only the latest in attacks this week that have taken the lives of at least 26 and wounded another 50. Most of the targets have been security personnel. The exception to this has been in Diyala, where attacks in that area has targetted civilians.