Gunmen kill 5 Iraqi soldiers in drive by shooting on checkpoint in Baghdad suburb

Gunmen kill 5 soldiers in Baghdad

BAGHDAD — Police and army officials say gunmen riding in two cars shot dead five Iraqi soldiers at a checkpoint in the suburbs of Baghdad.

Authorities say that the soldiers were manning a checkpoint in Radwaniya, a Sunni suburb near the airport, when they were attacked early Wednesday.

Iraqi forces arrested 17 suspects in the area.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

While overall violence has dropped considerably in Iraq since 2008, policemen and soldiers are still often attacked by insurgents.