Jihadists kill 23 in fighting south of Baghdad: army

Islamic State jihadist fighters killed at least 23 Iraqi soldiers and members of allied Shiite militia in a flashpoint area south of Baghdad, army sources said today.
IS militants firing salvos of mortar rounds began attacking the town of Jurf al-Sakhr late yesterday, killing 11 soldiers and 12 members of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia, an officer and army medic said.
Another seven soldiers were wounded during a subsequent government operation against jihadist fighters in Jurf al-Sakhr, Al-Hamya and Latifiya, the sources said.