Iraqi soldiers abducted, 13 Iraqis killed in separate attacks

Militants captured at least five Iraqi soldiers and at least 13 people were killed in separate attacks throughout the country Sunday, officials said. Witnesses said between five and 22 soldiers were abducted by anti-government fighters, who also seized several military vehicles, Middle East Online, MENA, reported. Videos of the alleged kidnapping near Fallujah were posted on YouTube, though their authenticity couldn't be verified. The abductors were seen in the videos hoisting a black flag similar to one flown by jihadists, shouting slogans of support to the al-Qaida-inked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Also in Fallujah, a mother and her three children died in an explosion near their home, MENA reported. It was unclear whether the blast was caused by heavy artillery or smaller rockets. Elsewhere in Iraq, 10 people were killed in gun and bomb attacks.