Iraqi Fighter Plane Drops Bomb Accidentally, kills 7

A bomb from an Iraqi warplane accidently fell down on Monday due to technical problem in Eastern Baghdad.

Security spokesman Brigadier General Saad Maan was quoted as saying by AFP today that one of the bombs became stuck during the aircraft's return to base. The bomb fell on three houses in Baghdad Jadida and the explosion killed at least seven people, security and medical officials said.

The jet was coming back from a bombing run when the accident occurred, Maan said. Officials said that the blast, which occurred near the Rasheed air base, also wounded at least 11 people.

Iraq purchased Sukhoi Su-25 jets from Russia and Iran last year as it sought to bolster its fledgling air force to combat the Islamic State jihadist group, which overran large parts of the nation.

The Su-25s are robust aircraft designed for ground attack missions, but Iraq's Sukhoi fleet is made up of ageing planes that have seen heavy use as Baghdad's forces battle to push the jihadists back.

The US agreed to sell Iraq 36 F-16 warplanes, but none have been delivered so far. The first batch of the jets has instead been sent to Arizona, where Iraqi F-16 pilots are training.