A suicide car bomber attacked an Iraqi army checkpoint south of Baghdad early on Sunday, killing nine soldiers and wounding three others, a defense ministry official said.

The attacker drove an explosive-laden vehicle into a checkpoint near the town of Yousifiyah, some 20 km south of Baghdad, killing nine soldiers and wounding three others, the official said on condition of anonymity.

The attack came as Iraqi troops launched a massive offensive in and around Baghdad, blocking all entrances to the capital, erecting some 675 checkpoints and conducting a houses-to-house search. Hundreds of suspects were arrested and lots of weapons were seized.

Source: Xinhua