Bomb on military bus kills 15 soldiers in western Iraq

A bomb went off in a popular area with restaurants and coffee shops in the town of al-Hamza Security sources have reported the death and injury of dozens of people in two separate explosions on Wednesday, the first in an Iraqi military camp in Al Habaneyeh, situated 35km of Al Ramadi, and the second in Al Shumali area, south of Al Halleh in central Iraq.  A bomb attached to a military bus has exploded, killing 15 Iraqi soldiers and wounding 20 others at the AL Habeneyeh military camp. The explosion took place at an Iraqi military base in Habeneyeh, near Falluja.
"The soldiers finished their academic training and a bus took them to have breakfast at the restaurant in the base. When the bus reached the restaurant it exploded," an army source said.
In a separate incident, 11 civilians were killed and at least another 41 people were wounded after a bomb exploded in a car that was parked close to “Hisan” restaurant in the Al Shumali area south of Al Halleh city, a police source in Babel province reported.
The source told Arabstoday that security forces surrounded the area and ambulances rushed to the scene. Babel province has enjoyed reasonable stability recently, although the province’s north still periodically witnesses armed operations that target civilians and security forces.
Violence in Iraq has decreased from its peak in 2006-2007, there has been a marked increase in violence against the Iraqi army and police force as the US continues its withdrawal.
45 Iraqi police and 39 soldiers were killed across Iraq in August, according to Iraqi government figures.
The US is scheduled to withdraw fully by December 31 this year.