Sunni militia commander assassinated in Baghdad

By Amer al-Hassani

BAGHDAD (AA) - A commander of Iraq’s Hashd al-Ashaeri -- a Sunni pro-government militia force -- was killed Friday by unidentified gunmen in northern Baghdad, according to an Iraqi military source.

“Sheikh Latif al-Jari was killed in an attack on his home in Baghdad’s majority-Sunni Al-Mashahida district,” Police Captain Nazhan al-Khader told Anadolu Agency.

According to al-Khader, al-Jari was killed -- and one of his sons seriously injured -- when three attackers wielding machine guns broke into his home and opened fire.

Iraqi security forces have since cordoned off the area and have begun searching for the attackers, al-Khader said.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the murder.