BAGHDAD — At least 28 Iraqi army recruits were killed Tuesday morning in two suicide bombings north of Baghdad in Diyala province, where the government has said it plans to launch an offensive against insurgent groups.
Meanwhile, in Mosul, at least five people were killed and 11 wounded Tuesday in a series of blasts, Iraqi officials said.
The twin bombings in Diyala occurred at Camp Saad, a recruitment center east of Baqubah, the officials said. The first bomber detonated explosives among a group of recruits, and the second targeted those who fled the site, said the commander of the Diyala military operations center. At least 57 people were wounded in the blasts, he said.
Iraqi officials have said they intend to send more troops to Diyala in coming days to launch an operation. Sunni insurgent groups, primarily al- Qaeda in Iraq, have carried out several attacks there in recent weeks targeting Iraqi security forces.
