BAGHDAD: A series of car bombings targeting a mosque and markets in the Iraqi capital killed at least 20 people on Friday, officials said, in the second straight day of attacks in Baghdad blamed on Islamic militants who have seized large parts of the country.

In the day’s deadliest attack, a parked explosives-packed car detonated near the al-Mubarak mosque in central Baghdad’s Karradah area, killing eight people and wounding 18 others, police said.

Cars later exploded in two outdoor markets, one in the suburb of Nahrawan and the other in the district of Bayaa. The attacks together killed nine people and wounded 23, according to police.

Just south of Baghdad, yet another car bomb went off on a parking lot in Mahmoudiyah town, killing three and wounding 10, said police. Medical officials confirmed the casualty tolls.

Friday’s attacks came a day after a series of deadly attacks in mainly Shia areas in and around Baghdad that left dozens killed.

The coordinated nature and style of the attacks strongly suggested they were the work of the extremist Islamic State group.

US warplanes have been carrying out airstrikes against the group as Iraqi and Kurdish security forces work to retake territory it has seized.

US Central Command said that the military has carried out 176 airstrikes in Iraq since Aug. 8. France said it also has joined American forces in military action in Iraq by conducting its first airstrikes Friday against the militant Islamic State group, destroying a logistics depot that it controlled.

Meanwhile, the Sunni militant group said it has established a police force to assert law and order in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, which it seized in June.

Published in Dawn, September 20th , 2014