More than 8 killed after Iraqi jet accidentally bombs Baghdad

A bomb has fallen from an Iraqi Sukhoi warplane and exploded in eastern Baghdad because of a "technical problem", killing at least eight people and wounding 17.
"One of the bombs became stuck because of a technical problem, and during its (the aircraft's) return to base it fell on ... houses in Baghdad Jadida," security spokesman Brigadier General Saad Maan said.

The pilot tried six times to drop the bomb, which became stuck while he was carrying out strikes against the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, but was unable to dislodge it "mechanically or manually", the defence ministry said in a statement.
But the bomb came loose as the plane overflew Baghdad on Monday to land at its base, the ministry said.
The governor of Baghdad province, Ali al-Tamimi, called for the Rasheed air base, where the plane was bound, to be moved to a non-residential area.

Tamimi said he contacted the air force and was told the plane was returning from the Haditha area in Anbar province, which is surrounded by IS.
The explosion ripped through small houses in Baghdad Jadida, tearing down walls, smashing roofs and leaving bricks and other rubble piled in the street.
"Our house was destroyed," said Ali Jassem, a 27-year-old interior ministry employee.
Jassem said that if an accidental bombing can happen in an area where there is no fighting, "God knows the extent of the events happening" in combat zones.