Gunmen stormed a home in a small town south of Baghdad early Wednesday, Jan 18, killing a local leader and three of his sons, according to police.

Sabbar Mohammed, the leader of Al-Boasaj, was fatally shot while he was sleeping, CNN reported.

The attackers wounded a fourth son, who is a member of the local Awakening Council.

Awakening Councils, also known as the Sons of Iraq, mainly comprise Sunni Arab fighters who turned against al Qaeda in late 2006. The U.S.-backed movement is credited as among the main factors that contributed to a drop in violence.

Council members have become targets for jihadists.

Over the past two weeks, hundreds of Iraqis have been killed and wounded in violence across the country, raising concerns about the ability of security forces to do their job.