Roadside bomb targets coalition forces convoy in Iraq

A convoy belonging to international forces in Iraq was targeted in a roadside bombing on Sunday, which did not result in any casualties, security sources said.

An explosive devise planted on the side of a main road in the southern Diwaniyah province exploded as a convoy for the Global Coalition against the Islamic State group passed by.

Only some material damage was caused, with no deaths or injuries, sources said.

The Global Coalition Against Daesh (the Arabic acronym for IS) intervened in Iraq and Syria soon after the extremist group announced its self-proclaimed caliphate in 2014, spanning territory in both countries.

The coalition includes around 2,500 US troops, who are scheduled to pull out of Iraq at the end of this year.

An unknown number of them will remain past December 31 to advise and train the Iraqi army, and the US will continue to cooperate with Iraq on training, armament, intelligence and counterterrorism.

The US will also continue to carry out airstrikes on IS targets.

Sunday’s attack came a day after Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi met with Washington’s ambassador to Baghdad, Matthew Tueller, who discussed the latest local and regional security developments and the planned US military withdrawal.

Pro-Iranian factions in Iraq have repeatedly voiced scepticism over Washington’s intent to pull out its troops and even the Iraqi government’s seriousness on the matter.

A member of the Iran-backed Hezbollah Brigades militia, Mohsen Al-Said, accused Al-Kadhimi of "conspiring" to keep American forces in the country, adding that the premier had no right to do this especially as he is leading a caretaker government, following the legislative elections in October.