Twelve dead after ISIL suicide bomb attack on Iraq security base

At least twelve members of Iraq's security forces have been killed in an Islamic State suicide attack on a base near Tikrit, authorities said. 

The jihadists targeted members of a police force visiting from the ISIL-held northern province of Mosul, paramilitary taskforce spokesman Mahmud al-Sorchi said.

Seven attackers were killed, and 20 further policemen were injured in the attack, which took place early Sunday local time, he said.

"Under the cover of fog, they broke into Speicher [military base]," Mr al-Sorchi said.

"Nineveh police managed to kill seven attackers but three were able to detonate their suicide vests," he said.

Several other security sources in the region have confirmed the attack, for which ISIL has claimed responsibility.

ISIL said seven suicide attackers managed to enter the military base, which lies about 160 kilometres north of Baghdad.

In a statement posted online, ISIL said its commando reached a centre where 1,200 cadets were being trained, sparking clashes that lasted four hours.