5 Italian soldiers wounded by roadside explosion in Iraq

A roadside blast wounded five Italian military members Sunday in northern Iraq as they returned from a mission aimed at helping Iraqi troops combat the Islamic State group, Italian military officials said.

The Italian Defense Ministry said three of the wounded were in “grave condition” after the explosion.

Rear Admiral Fabio Agostini said the five -- three members of the navy and two of the army -- are part of a special forces team that was traveling back after a mission aimed at finding IS refuges.