At Least Nine Killed in Car Bombing North of Baghdad, Sources Say

On Tuesday, at least 12 people were killed in a suicide truck bombing at an outdoor fruit and vegetable market in al-Rashidiya.

IS has responded to the battlefield setbacks by striking civilians, particularly Shias, and experts have warned there may be more bombings as the group continues to lose ground.

Up to 23 people were also wounded, a police officer told the Associated Press news agency, when the attacker detonated his explosives-laden vehicle at the checkpoint.

A report by UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) estimated that 662 Iraqis were killed and 1,457 others were injured in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in June across Iraq.

Medical officials confirmed the casualties.

Baghdad is on high alert for attacks after a blast in the central Karrada district on July 3 killed at least 292 people, making it one of the deadliest bombings in Iraq since US-led forces toppled Saddam Hussein 13 years ago.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks, but they bore the hallmarks of the Islamic State group. In the first attack, a truck blew up in a crowded commercial area in another Shiite neighborhood in Baghdad called Karada. Maan did not name the occasion, but the country is due to mark the anniversary of its 1958 overthrow of a Hashemite monarchy and the declaration of Iraq as a republic on Thursday.

According to Carter, who on Monday met with top Iraqi officials, the new American forces should arrive in the coming weeks.

In a U.S.-backed offensive, the Iraqi army has recaptured the cities of Ramadi and Falluja from Islamic State in recent months.