The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman has denounced a terrorist attack in the Iraqi central province of Karbala, saying terrorists are spending their final days in Iraq.
“Takfiri terrorists commit such crimes and kill innocent people while knowing that they are living out their final days in Iraq,” Bahram Qassemi said on Monday.
He expressed his sympathy with the Iraqi government and nation as well as families of the victims of this evil and anti-human move and added that such “blind and savage” measures are carried out by terrorists in reaction to their repeated defeats at the hands of the Iraqi army and popular forces.
The Iranian spokesperson expressed hope that terrorism would be eradicated in Iraq as soon as possible through efforts by the country’s government, army and popular forces and the reinforcement of national unity among Iraqis of all ethnicities and faiths.
Qassemi also hoped that the Iraqi people would live in peace and calm and work toward their country’s security and reconstruction.
At least 18 people were killed and more than 26 others injured after a powerful bomb explosion ripped through a residential neighborhood in Iraq’s Karbala.
The Euphrates Operations Command said in a statement on Monday that the incident took place in the town of Ayn al-Tamr, located 120 kilometers (74.5 miles) west of the provincial capital city of Karbala, the previous night, when five terrorists clad in explosives-laden vests attacked a wedding ceremony.
One of the assailants hurled hand grenades at the site, fired gunshots from a Kalashnikov rifle, and blew himself up at last. Iraqi security forces managed to gun down the four remaining attackers before they could inflict more casualties.
Daesh Takfiri group claimed responsibility for the assault which was a rare occurrence in this region southwest of the capital, Baghdad.