Suicide bomber kills six in Baghdad

A suicide bomber killed six people in western Baghdad on Sunday, a security spokesman said, a day after bomb and gun attacks hit a city north of the capital.

The bomber detonated an explosive belt in the Iskan area, also wounding 18 people, according to a statement from security spokesman Saad Maan.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but the Islamic State group frequently carries out suicide bombings targeting both civilians and security forces in Baghdad and other parts of the country.

The Baghdad attack came a day after militants killed 12 people in gun and bomb attacks claimed by IS in the city of Tikrit. Iraqi forces are preparing for a push on Mosul, the last IS-held city in the country, after regaining much of the territory the militant group seized in June 2014.

Even as it loses ground, IS retains the ability to carry out deadly attacks in government-held areas, and is likely to increasingly turn to such insurgent tactics if it loses Mosul.