Up to 18 die as wave of suicide attacks hit Iraq

A STRING of four bomb attacks within seven minutes killed at least 18 people and wounded 39 in northern Iraq yesterday, while a Baghdad carbomb injured 28, officials said.

Hundreds of US and Iraqi soldiers descended on the northern city of Tal Afar yesterday, launching a major operation against insurgents after weeks of attacks against Iraqi security services there, military officials said.

Two US Marines died on Monday after separate roadside bombings near Fallujah, 40 miles west of Baghdad, the military said. A US soldier died of non-combat related injuries on Sunday at Camp Dublin, near Baghdad International Airport, the military added.