US airstrikes destroy IS convoy in Iraq

US warplanes attacked a terrorist convoy near Mosul in Iraq in an attempt to kill Islamic State (IS) leaders, media reported Sunday.

A spokesman for the US Central Command in a statement Saturday said that he could not confirm whether top IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was in the convoy, CNN reported.

His statement was made in response to media reports indicating that the IS leader may have died or is critically injured.

"I can confirm that coalition aircraft did conduct a series of airstrikes Saturday evening in Iraq against what was assessed to be a gathering of IS leaders near Mosul, destroying a vehicle convoy consisting of 10 armed trucks," the spokesman said.

Meanwhile in Baghdad, car bombs hit four areas, including a busy commercial street, killing at least 21 people, police officials said.

Iraq has welcomed the US-led coalition decision to provide more support in training the Iraqi forces to help fight the IS, but added that "this step is a little late".

US President Barack Obama's administration Friday announced the deployment of 1,500 more soldiers to Iraq to train Iraqi and Kurdish forces to confront the IS.