(VOVworld) – 15 members of the UN Security Council have denounced suicide bombings and violence conducted by the Islamic State militants in and outside Baghdad. In a statement on October 17, they asked the international community to expand assistance to the Baghdad government to push back IS and associated extremist groups.

A woman standing next to vehicles destroyed in a car bomb attack in the Shaoula neighbourhood of Baghdad October 12, 2014. (photo: REUTERS/ Thaier Al-Sudani)

The statement stressed the need to use all necessary measures not prohibited by international law to battle IS. In another development, 26 people were killed and 96 injured in 3 car bombs in Baghdad on October 17.
The Iraqi government has launched a mop-up operation in the northern areas of the country in Tikrit city and around the Baiji oil refinery in Salahuddin province. Heavy fighting is also underway between government forces and IS militants in other provinces in the north and west of the country.