The Iraqi army block the entrance to Sadr City. At least 30 people were killed in a suicide bombing in the Baghdad suburb last week. AFP
The Iraqi army block the entrance to Sadr City. At least 30 people were killed in a suicide bombing in the Baghdad suburb last week. AFP
The Iraqi army block the entrance to Sadr City. At least 30 people were killed in a suicide bombing in the Baghdad suburb last week. AFP
The Iraqi army block the entrance to Sadr City. At least 30 people were killed in a suicide bombing in the Baghdad suburb last week. AFP

Iraq: at least 11 killed in ISIS attack on funeral procession


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An attack on a funeral procession in northern Iraq has claimed the lives of at least 11 people, Iraq’s military have said.

The military said on Friday the “terrorist” attack in Yathrib district of Salahaddin province resulted in a “number of victims” but did not provide specific figures.

An Iraqi security official said 11 people had been killed, among them police and civilians, and that armed militants had opened fire on the crowd.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attack had been perpetrated by ISIS. The death toll could not be immediately confirmed but local officials said a number of the wounded were in critical condition and several had been rushed to hospital in Baghdad.

The military said it will provide details once an investigation is complete, but initial reports suggest a large crowd of mourners had gathered in the open and had then come under sniper fire.

Iraqi security forces said the attack stopped after a surge of military personnel and local fighters went to the scene.

Northern Iraq has been a hotspot for ISIS activity since their territorial defeat in 2017 by Iraqi security forces with assistance from the US-led coalition. Iraqi forces routinely carry out anti-ISIS operations in the rugged mountainous northern region and the deserts of western Iraq where they are known to be holed up.

Local tensions

ISIS attacks have abated in recent years but continue in these remote areas north of Baghdad where security forces are often the target of ambushes, raids and IEDs.

But Salahaddin has in recent years been fairly secure and attacks on the capital of the province, Tikrit, are rare.

Close knit Sunni tribal communities frequently cooperate with an array of different Iraqi security forces, including the Iraqi army, local police and in some cases, Iran-backed militias.

But the presence of Iran-backed groups has proven divisive.

In Yathrib, Iran-backed militia Asaib Ahl Al Haq has a strong presence, which according to a recent study by the German Institute for Global and Area Studies, has exacerbated tensions within the local Sunni majority community.

The US has sanctioned the group for grievous human rights abuses, including the killing of thousands of Sunni civilians during the years of US occupation and the war on ISIS and since 2019, hundreds of Shiite protesters.

Analysts also warn that having such a large number of security force groups, from militias to local police and the army, often leads to coordination problems, allowing ISIS to infiltrate between different units.

The deterioration of security north of the Iraqi capital means that at times, the terrorists have been successful striking within Baghdad, although attacks in the capital are far less frequent than in the past.

At least 30 people were killed last week in a suicide bombing in the Baghdad suburb of Sadr City. The attack was claimed by ISIS.

JAPANESE GRAND PRIX INFO

Schedule (All times UAE)
First practice: Friday, 5-6.30am
Second practice: Friday, 9-10.30am
Third practice: Saturday, 7-8am
Qualifying: Saturday, 10-11am
Race: Sunday, 9am-midday 

Race venue: Suzuka International Racing Course
Circuit Length: 5.807km
Number of Laps: 53
Watch live: beIN Sports HD

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Recent winners

2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)

2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)

2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)

2007 Grace Bijjani  (Mexico)

2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)

2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)

2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)

2011 Maria Farah (Canada)

2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)

2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)              

2014 Lia Saad  (UAE)

2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)

2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)

2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)

2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)

 

 

Simran

Director Hansal Mehta

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey

Three stars

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Tips from the expert

Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.

  1. Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
  2. It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
  3. Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
  4. Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
Find the right policy for you

Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.

Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.

Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.

Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.

If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.

Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.

Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”

Updated: July 31, 2021, 12:14 PM`