Gunmen from the Islamic State extremist group have attacked an army barracks in a mountainous area north of Baghdad, killing 11 soldiers as they slept, Iraqi security officials say.
The officials said the attack occurred in the Al-Azim district, an open area north of of Baqouba in Diyala province.
The circumstances of the attack were not immediately clear, but two officials who spoke to The Associated Press said Islamic State group militants broke into the barracks at 3am local time on Friday and shot dead the soldiers.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they weren't authorised to issue official statements.
The brazen attack more than 120km north of the capital Baghdad was one of the deadliest targeting the Iraqi military in recent months.
Australian Associated Press
