More than 80 people, 7 Iranians among them, killed in Iraq's twin attacks

Iraqi security and medical sources say more than 80 people, including seven Iranians, have lost their lives in twin gun and car bomb attacks striking the country’s southern province of Dhi Qar.

Abdel Hussein al-Jabri, deputy health chief for Dhi Qar province was quoted by AFP as saying that at least 84 people lost their lives in the attacks, which left 93 others wounded.

One of the attacks occurred close to a restaurant near the city of Nasiriyah, the capital city of Dhi Qar province, situated about 370 kilometers (225 miles) southeast of the capital, Baghdad, on Thursday afternoon.

Local officials say the death toll could rise due to the critical condition of some of the wounded.

Iraqi Interior Ministry spokesman, Saad Maan, also said a car bomb in the same area targeted a security checkpoint shortly afterwards.

Hours after the attack, Daesh Takfiri terrorist group claimed responsibility for both attacks in the southern Iraqi city.

A statement on the terrorist group’s Amaq news agency said both attacks were carried out by Daesh terrorists.

According to the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), a total of 125 Iraqi civilians lost their lives, and 188 others were injured as a result of terrorist attacks and other acts of violence across Iraq in August.

The UN mission, however, did not mention the number of Iraqi police forces, who were killed or sustained injuries during last month’s acts of violence.

A large number of the fatalities were recorded in the capital province of Baghdad, where 45 civilians were killed and 135 others wounded during the same period.

According to the UN figures, 36 people were killed and 18 injured in the northern province of Nineveh. Another four people lost their lives and 24 others suffered injuries in the central province of Salahuddin.

Iraqi army soldiers and pro-government fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units, commonly known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha’abi, are engaged in joint operations to win back militant-held areas of the country.

Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on August 31 that the northern city of Tal Afar and the entire Nineveh province had been purged of Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

The recapture of Tal Afar was made possible with the help of the Iraqi army, Federal Police, counter-terrorism units, volunteer troops, and Rapid Response Forces, Abadi added.

Iran strongly condemns terror attacks in Iraq

In a related development on Thursday, the spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned twin terrorist attacks in Iraq’s Dhi Qar province, extending Tehran’s condolences to the Iraqi government and nation as well as the families of victims.

Bahram Qassemi also expressed his deep regret over death and injury of a number of Iranian pilgrims in the attacks, condoling with their families.

“The concerned institutions, including the Islamic Republic of Iran's embassy in Baghdad, are going through details of the incident to clarify the identities of dear and innocent martyrs and those wounded in this act of terrorism,” he said.

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