Iraqi officials say a suicide bomber driving a tanker truck has targeted a security checkpoint in a village north of Baghdad, killing eight soldiers and Shiite militiamen.
Police officials say today's attack took place in the village of Mikeshifa, near the city of Samarra, located about 95 kilometers north of Baghdad.
No one immediately claimed the attack but Samarra and its surrounding areas have been under constant attacks by militants from the Islamic State group.
A medic confirmed the casualties. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to media.
Iraq is facing its worst crisis since the 2011 withdrawal of US troops, with the Islamic State group in control of large swaths of land in the country's north and west.
