Suicide bombings and car bombs killed 23 people in Iraq on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

Suicide bombings and car bombs killed 23 people in Iraq on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

A car bomb, followed by a suicide bombing, killed 11 people at a police building in al-Nisour Square in Baghdad, and 21 people were wounded.

In Diyala province north of Baghdad, Army Colonel Faisal al-Zuhairi and five of his men were killed by a suicide bomber.

Another suicide bomber in an explosives-laden car attacked an army checkpoint in the town of Yusifiya, 15km south of Baghdad, killing six people and wounding 20, according to police.

The violence comes as Iraqi security forces and pro-government fighters battle to push back the Takfiri group ISIL, which has seized significant territory since June.