5 senior officers among 15 killed in western Iraq ambush - RT News Published time: December 21, 2013 09:16 Edited time: December 21, 2013 10:54 ARCHIVE PHOTO: Iraqi soldiers stand near their vehicle during their withdrawal from the neighbourghood of the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk on April 27, 2013 (AFP Photo / Marwan Ibrahim) At least 15 troops have been killed in an ambush in western Iraq, Reuters reported military sources as saying. The killing took place in the Sunni-dominated province of Anbar. Five senior officers were among those killed, including the commander, Major General Mohammed al-Karoui, and his aide. A convoy of the 7th Army Division was attacked by the fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq, an al-Qaeda terrorist group, Al-Jazeera reported. When the assault began, the soldiers were hit by suicide bombers, and when they entered buildings a few booby traps exploded, AFP reported. Over 8,000 people have died in Iraq this year, according to Iraq Body Count's estimates - making it the bloodiest year for the country since 2008. In November alone, 948 people were killed as a result of violence in the country. In December, at least 352 people have died in attacks across the country so far, according to AP.