Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Wave of Baghdad blasts kills at least 25

Dozens of people have been killed in bombings and clashes between security forces and militants in Iraq.

Iraqi youths inspect damages of a car bomb explosion in Iraq
25 people have been killed in bombings and clashes between security forces and militants in Iraq. (AAP)

A series of bombings mainly targeting Shi'ite-majority areas of the Iraqi capital has killed at least 25 people, officials say.

The six car bombings and one roadside bomb hit seven different areas of Baghdad on Saturday, also wounding more than 85 people.

The attacks came as security forces battled militants in the northern city of Mosul in clashes that killed 59 people.

And in Ramadi, west of Baghdad, militants took hundreds of students and staff hostage at a university, sparking an assault led by special forces to free them.

Violence is running at its highest levels since 2006-2007, when tens of thousands were killed in sectarian conflict between Iraq's Shi'ite majority and Sunni Arab minority.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

More than 900 people were killed last month, according to figures separately compiled by the United Nations and the government.

So far this year, more than 4300 people have been killed.

Officials blame external factors for the rising bloodshed, particularly the civil war in neighbouring Syria.

But analysts say widespread Sunni Arab anger with the Shi'ite-led government has also been a major factor.


1 min read

Published

Updated



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world