Two Iraqi mosques targeted by bombing attacks in Babil Province

Two mosques have been targeted by bombing attacks carried out by unknown assailants in different areas in central Iraq.

The attacks were carried out by unidentified assailants in different areas of the Iraqi province of Babil, located south of the capital, Baghdad, early on Monday.

The Ammar bin Yasser mosque in Hillah region’s Bakerli neighborhood and the al-Fath al-Mubeen mosque in the village of Sinjar were hit by bombing attacks. A guard in the Ammar bin Yasser mosque was killed in the attack.

Reports said the blasts damaged about 10 neighboring buildings. Three people were also injured in the attacks.

Babil Province’s media spokesman, Muthanna al-Mamoori said the attacks were carried out on Sunni mosques, adding that the bombings aimed to instigate sectarian violence in the country.

“After we heard the explosion, we went to its source and found that IEDs (improvised explosive devices) had been planted in the mosque,” an unnamed Iraqi police officer said.

Police sources and witnesses say the explosives were planted by men wearing military uniforms.

In a separate incident, police said a muezzin, a man appointed to call Muslims to prayer, was also shot dead by unknown gunmen near his home in Iskandariyah.

Iraq has been fighting Daesh terrorists operating in the country since June 2014. The militants have been carrying out beheadings, summary executions, and kidnappings targeting different religious communities in Iraq, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians and others.