Islamic State claims attack on army post in northern Iraq
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Islamic State claimed responsibility on Tuesday for an attack on Monday targeting an army post in northern Iraq which security sources said had killed a commanding officer and four soldiers.

The attack took place between Diyala and Salahuddin provinces, a rural area that remains a hotbed of activity for militant cells years after Iraq declared final victory over the extremist group in 2017.

Security forces repelled the attack, the defence ministry said on Monday in a statement mourning the loss of a colonel and a number of others from the regiment. The security sources said five others had also been wounded.

Islamic State said in a statement on Telegram it had targeted the barracks with machine guns and grenades.

Iraq has seen relative security stability in recent years after the chaos of the 2003-U.S.-led invasion and years of bloody sectarian conflict that followed.

(Reporting by Adam Makary and Jaidaa Taha; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Alison Williams)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) -     Islamic State claimed responsibility on Tuesday for an attack on Monday targeting an army post in northern Iraq which security sources said had killed a commanding officer and four soldiers.