(NYT) Baghdad – The attack struck a procession of family and friends for a real estate agent who was fatally shot in Baghdad. There were conflicting reports about the death toll. According to a security official, 22 people died and nearly three dozen were wounded. Other officials said the death toll was slightly higher and as many as 50 were wounded.
The attack appeared similar to others mounted by Al Qaeda in Iraq in recent weeks, shifting attention toward those with close ties to Iran in an effort to push back on the country’s influence in Iraq in the wake of the American withdrawal.