A suicide attack killed 12 people in a town north of the capital Baghdad on Monday resulting in a clash between security forces and Daesh militants, the Associated Press has reported.
Officials said that ten Shiite militiamen and two Iraqi soldiers were left dead when a suicide bomber drove a car into the group of men in Abasiyat, just south of Tikrit and 130 kilmetres north of Baghdad.
A further 18 people were injured, according to police and hospital officials.
Daesh militants have not claimed responsibility for the attack, but a battle between the jihadist fighters and Iraqi soldiers was sparked immediately after the bombing.
Tikrit and surrounding areas are currently held by Daesh and witness regular attacks and suicide bombings.
