Press TV- A car bomb has reportedly exploded south of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, killing around 100people, mostly Shia pilgrims.
According to security sources, a truck loaded with explosives went off on Thursday at a gas station in the Shomali village in the suburbs of the city of al-Hilla, located 120 kilometers (75 miles) southeast of the capital Baghdad and around 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Karbala.
Reports say most of the victims were Iranian nationals.
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The photo shows the site of a blast at a gas station near Hilla, south of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, November 24, 2016.[/caption]The incident occurred at a time when buses packed with Shia pilgrims were parked at the gas station. The people were returning from Arbaeen mourning rituals in the holy city of Karbala.
At least seven buses with pilgrims were inside the petrol station at the time, an unnamed police lieutenant colonel told AFP.
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People carry away the bodies of victims from the site of a bomb attack near Hilla, Iraq, November 24, 2016.[/caption]AFP also quoted an unnamed police intelligence source as saying that those buses were loaded with Iranians, Bahrainis and Iraqis. Ambulances and civil defense are on their way to the site.
The Takfiri Daesh terrorist group claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing.
In recent weeks, Daesh has resorted to similar acts of violence in areas outside its control in a desperate attempt to undermine a large Iraqi battle aimed at liberating the northern city of Mosul, the terror groups last remaining footholdin the country.
Iran wont waver in backing Iraq
Hours after the incident, Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman strongly condemned the fatal terrorist blast, expressing sympathy with the Iraqi government and nation as well as all the families of the victims.
Touching on reports that Iranian citizens were among the victims, Bahram Qassemi said, The Foreign Ministry and the Islamic Republic of Irans Embassy in Baghdad are investigating the issue with seriousness and will take necessary measures in that regard.
The Iranian official also stressed that such pre-planned and savage assaults emanate from the desperation of the terrorists, who are taking successive blows on the battlefield.
These brutal and inhumane actswill not affect the Iraqi government and nations determination and the Islamic Republic of Irans support for the oppressed Iraqi people in the unrelenting fight against terrorism, Qassemi said.
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The photo shows the site of a blast at a gas station near Hilla, south of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, November 24, 2016.[/caption]Gruesome violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since Daesh terrorists mounted an offensive there more than two years ago, and took control of portions of Iraqi territory.
Iraqi army soldiers and allied fighters are trying to win back militant-held regions in joint operations.
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) says a total of 1,792 Iraqis, among them 1,120, lost their lives in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in October.
