Suicide bomber targets cafe in Western Iraq, 11 killed

The Iraqi authorities say a suicide bomber has struck a cafe in the western city of Hit, killing at least 11 people.

The city’s security bureau says 15 other people were wounded in today’s blast, and that the victims are all civilians. It says emergency services and security forces are at the scene. The city is located in the sprawling Anbar province.

Iraqi security forces are battling Islamic State militants in the far western edge of the largely desert province. Hit is about 160 kilometers behind the front line.