At least six soldiers were killed Monday in an attack in western Iraq claimed by ISIS that began with five suicide bombers ramming explosives-laden vehicles into a checkpoint, officials said.
Several foreigners were among the bombers, including a Frenchman, according to a statement by ISIS which said its fighters carried out the attack.
A senior officer in the Iraqi army, manning the checkpoint near the town of Al-Baghdadi in Anbar province, said nine soldiers were also wounded.
He told AFP that after the suicide attacks some 25 extremists launched an assault on the checkpoint, the main one on the road leading to Al-Asad air base, where a large number of Iraqi troops and foreign advisers are stationed.
The officer said most of the gunmen were wearing suicide vests.