1 soldier killed, 3 wounded in Iraq bombings

One Iraqi soldier was killed and three others were injured when two explosive devices went off on Monday morning. A security source told the National Iraqi News Agency (NINA) that two explosive devices were planted on the side of the highway in the district of Baiji, north of Tikrit, exploded alternately at an army patrol, killing one soldier and wounding three others seriously and causing material damage the targeted wheel. Meanwhile, unidentified gunmen blew up four houses under construction east of Tikrit on Monday morning. A police source said that the houses belong to police officers in the neighborhood of Askari area amid Tuz Khurmatu district, east of Tikrit. No casualties were reported. Also Monday, a police force from Salah al-Din province arrested 18 wanted persons, north of Tikrit. The police force carried out raids and searches in the Sinia area of the Baiji district north of Tikrit, and arrested 18 wanted men in accordance with Article IV of the anti-terrorism law, NINA said. The source added that the force found weapons and explosives in their possession. On Sunday evening, explosives experts, belonging to the Babel police headquarters, dismantled a car bomb was parked near a Husseiniya processions in the Alexandria area 60 km north of Hilla. The police source said that the car was carrying large quantities of explosives and defused without causalities.