Iraq: Shiite militia massacres Sunnis gathered in mosque for prayer

A Shiite militia has massacred at least 50 Sunnis as they gathered to pray in a village mosque in the Iraqi province of Diyala.

Citing a morgue official, Reuters put the death toll at 68 people. The New York Times, citing Iraqi security sources only said that more than 50 people were killed. Both media organizations agree that the militia was brought to the area after the explosion of a number of roadside bombs.

An Iraqi politician told Reuters that around 150 people were in the mosque at the time of the killings. The attackers showed up at the same time in two pick-up trucks.

The Times says that three bombs exploded in an apparent effort to assassinate the leader of a local Shiite tribe who is also influential with other Shiite tribes in the area. The tribal leader survived, but five people traveling in his entourage were killed.

The same lawmaker cited by Reuters told the Times that the shooters would not allow ambulances to respond to the scene. She also said this was not the first time Shiite groups carried out indiscriminate killings in retribution for attacks that have left Shiites dead.

As infighting spreads through Iraq, the Islamic State is threatening to massacre another minority group like the Yezidis. The group is composed of Shiite Turkmen in the town of Amerli, according to the Times.

The town's 17,000 inhabitants have been besieged by IS fighters for weeks. They are running low on food and medicine, while the ammunition used to keep IS at bay is also dwindling. The Islamic State views both the Yezidis and Turkmen as infidels dserving death because they do not adhere to Sunni Islam.

With increasing sectarian violence such as the massacre in Diyala province, the effort of establishing a new and inclusive Iraqi government capable of defeating IS will be that much more difficult.