THE death toll from car bombs that targeted two hotels in Baghdad rose to 15 yesterday, officials said, with 42 injured.

Islamic State (Isis) claimed responsibility for Thursday night’s attacks, when two separate devices exploded in the car parks of the Cristal and Babil hotels.

Police said that the bombs were detonated by remote control and that a third car bomb was discovered near the Babil Hotel and defused early yesterday.

Baghdad’s top hotels are usually crowded on Thursday nights with people attending weddings and parties.

A roadside bomb also hit a commuter bus in eastern Baghdad yesterday, killing three passengers and wounding 10.

Government anti-terrorism apparatus spokesman Sameer al-Shwaili said that more attacks on Baghdad were expected as military operations continued in an effort to drive Isis militants from the Sunni-majority provinces of Anbar and Salahuddin.