A suicide bomber killed at least 27 militants Monday outside the Iraqi town of Jurf al-Sakhar, after security forces pushed IS militants out of the area over the weekend, army and police sources said, and a car bomb in Baghdad killed 15, Daylistar reported referring to Reuters.
The attacker, driving a Humvee vehicle packed with explosives and likely stolen from defeated government troops, also wounded 60 militants, who had helped government forces retake the town just south of the capital.
Iraqis are bracing for more sectarian attacks on people, who are preparing for the religious festival of Ashoura.
Violence has in the past marred the run-up to the event, which will take place next week, and the festival itself.