A suicide truck bomb at a petrol station has killed about 100 people, most of them Iranian Shia pilgrims, in the Iraqi city of Hilla.

The so-called Islamic State, the ultra hardline Sunni militant group that considers all Shia to be apostates, claimed responsibility the attack in an online statement.

The group is also fighting off a US-backed offensive on its stronghold Mosul, in northern Iraq, in which Iranian-trained Shia militias are taking part.

The pilgrims were en route back to Iran from the Iraqi Shia holy city of Kerbala, where they had commemorated Arbaeen, the 40th day of mourning for the killing of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, in the 7th century AD, medical sources said.

The gas station has a restaurant in its premises that is popular with travellers.

Five pilgrim buses were torched by the force of the blast from the explosives-laden truck, a police official said.

Islamic State has intensified attacks over the past month in areas out of its control in efforts to weaken the offensive launched on 17 October to retake Mosul, the last major city under IS control in Iraq.

Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the attack without giving a casualties toll.

Iran will continue to support Iraq's ''relentless fight against terrorism," ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.

US officials condemned the attack.

"The United States remains steadfast in its partnership with the Iraqi people and government and this attack only serves to strengthen our resolve in defeating ISIL," National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

The US State Department is in close contact with Iraqi authorities, department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.</s>Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Mobile phone footage shows the aftermath of the attack, near the village of Shomali

Some 77 people, most of them Shia pilgrims from Iran and Afghanistan, have been killed in a truck bomb attack in Iraq, officials say.

The blast struck at a petrol station and restaurant near Hilla, some 100 km (60 miles) south of Baghdad.

Busloads of pilgrims had stopped there on their way home from commemorating Arbaeen in the holy city of Karbala. Some 40 people were wounded.

The jihadist group Islamic State said it carried out the attack.

Dense smoke

A senior local police officer told the BBC that the victims were on board four buses filling up with fuel at the road stop near the village of Shomali, 80 km (50 miles) south-east of Karbala.

A truck loaded with ammonia nitrate and other explosive material as well as fuel had been parked at the petrol station, and caused massive damage when it was detonated.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption The restaurant and petrol station were a popular stop for pilgrims

Pictures from the scene showed dense black smoke and the wreckage of minibuses and cars. The restaurant and petrol station also appeared to have been destroyed. Bodies were strewn on the highway.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption The suicide bomb blast targeted busloads of pilgrims

It is a familiar tactic of IS militants to strike in one place when under pressure in another, says the BBC Middle East correspondent Orla Guerin. Iraqi forces are currently pounding the IS-stronghold of Mosul in northern Iraq.

Millions of Shia pilgrims travelled to Karbala to mark Arbaeen, the end of the 40-day mourning period for the third Shia Imam, Hussein. This year it took place on Sunday.

Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was killed in battle at Karbala in the 7th Century on a day that is known as Ashura. His martyrdom is considered a defining event in the Sunni-Shia schism.

The Sunni militants of IS regard Shia as apostates because of their veneration of the Prophet's family and other beliefs and practices.

Image copyright AP Image caption Millions of Shia pilgrims made their way to Karbala to commemorate Arbaeen

Shia pilgrims are a target at this time of year, our correspondent adds. Although around 25,000 security forces were deployed to Karbala for the festival, some had returned to the front lines.

Last week six IS militants were confronted by security forces while on their way to Karbala, official said. Five were shot dead but the sixth blew himself up, killing eight civilians.

Deadliest bombings in Iraq in 2016

28 February: Twin suicide bomb attacks hit market in Sadr City, killing 70

6 March: Truck bomb at checkpoint at entrance to Hilla kills 47

11 May: Car bombs in Baghdad kill 93 people, including 64 in market in Shia district of Sadr City

2 July: Truck bombing outside shopping centre in mainly Shia Karrada district of Baghdad kills more than 300</s>Shia Muslim pilgrims gather outside the Imam Hussein shrine on the last day of the Arbaeen religious festival on Monday. A suicide attack killed scores of people, most of them Shia pilgrims in Hilla on Thursday.

Islamic State, which considers Shias as apostates, claimed responsibility for the attack.

A suicide truck bomb killed more than 80 people, most of them Iranian Shia pilgrims, at a petrol station in the city of Hilla 100 km south of Baghdad on Thursday, police and medical sources said.

Islamic State (IS), the ultra hardline Sunni militant group that considers all Shias to be apostates, claimed responsibility the attack in an online statement.

The pilgrims were en route back to Iran from the Iraqi Shia holy city of Kerbala, where they had commemorated Arbaeen, the 40th day of mourning for the killing of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, in the 7th century AD, the medical sources said.

The gas station has a restaurant in its premises that ispopular with travellers. Five pilgrim buses were torched by theforce of the blast from the explosives-laden truck, a policeofficial said.

Islamic State has intensified attacks over the past month inareas out of its control in efforts to weaken a U.S.-backedmilitary offensive launched on Oct. 17 to retake Mosul, the lastmajor city under IS control in Iraq.</s>ISIS Claims Responsibility for Truck Bomb Attack That Killed at Least 60 in Iraq (ABC News)

A truck bomb left dozens dead and injured in an attack apparently targeted at Shia religious pilgrims on Thursday in the Iraqi city of Hilla -- 60 miles south of Baghdad.

The exact death toll is uncertain. Iraqi police have said that 60 people have died and 25 are wounded, while the head of the Babylon provincial security committee told ABC News earlier that more than 70 were killed and 20 wounded. The White House said "initial reports indicate at least 80 people" are dead.

Falah al-Radhi, the provincial security chief, told ABC News that many of the dead were Iranian Shia pilgrims who were taking part in an Arba'een pilgrimage -- an annual religious event in the holy city of Karbala.

Iraqi and Afghan citizens were also among the wounded and dead, according to police officials.

ISIS, which is associated loosely with Sunni Islam, took credit for the attack in a short statement made through its Amaq News Agency.

Al-Radhi said that a fuel tanker was used to attack a gas station near the city of Hilla. Police officials said the blast was so big that it destroyed most of the gas station and damaged buildings 150 yards away from the epicenter.

The U.S. State Department said that initial reports stated that some of the victims were sitting together and enjoying a meal when the attack happened.

The White House condemned the attack, saying: "The United States extends its deepest sympathies to the families of the victims, as well as to all of Iraq, for this senseless violence, which was clearly intended to stoke sectarian tensions."

The State Department echoed the White House, saying it condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms." The department added: "These murders are yet another example of Daesh's contempt for human life and its efforts to sow discord and division among the Iraqi people."

Arba’een commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the prophet Muhammad’s grandson. Traditionally, the event sees Shia observers march from Baghdad to Karbala on foot. According to Euronews, tight security measures had been enacted for this year’s events, with soldiers, ambulances and armored cars escorting pilgrims along the route.

The attack is the latest in a string of deadly bombings across Iraq this year perpetrated by ISIS and aimed at followers of Shia Islam.

In July, an attack on a commercial district reportedly killed more than 300. Car bombings in May reportedly left around 100 dead. In March, an attacking using a fuel tanker truck -- as is the case in today's attack -- left at least 47 dead in Hilla, according to BBC News. And in February, twin suicide bombings killed 70 people in a Shia-dominated district of Baghdad, the Guardian newspaper reported.

Faiq reported from Baghdad, Iraq, while Blake reported from New York. ABC News’ Lena Masri, John Parkinson and Kirit Radia contributed to this report.</s>A flag bearing a portrait of Prophet Mohammed's grandson, Imam Hussein, flutters above an Iraqi Special Forces vehicle patrolling a northeastern district of the city of Mosul. (Photo: AFP)

Baghdad: A suicide truck bomb killed more than 80 people, most of them Iranian Shia pilgrims, at a petrol station in the city of Hilla 100 km (62 miles) south of Baghdad on Thursday, police and medical sources said.

Islamic State (IS), the ultra hardline Sunni militant group that considers all Shia to be apostates, claimed responsibility for the attack in an online statement.

The pilgrims were en route back to Iran from the Iraqi Shia holy city of Kerbala, where they had commemorated Arbaeen, the 40th day of mourning for the killing of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, in the 7th century AD, the medical sources said.

The gas station has a restaurant in its premises that is popular with travellers. Five pilgrim buses were torched by the force of the blast from the explosives-laden truck, a police official said.

Islamic State has intensified attacks over the past month in areas out of its control in efforts to weaken a US-backed military offensive launched on Octber 17 to retake Mosul, the last major city under IS control in Iraq.</s>Shia Muslim pilgrims gather outside the Imam Hussein shrine on the last day of the Arbaeen religious festival on Monday. A suicide attack killed scores of people, most of them Shia pilgrims in Hilla on Thursday.

Islamic State, which considers Shias as apostates, claimed responsibility for the attack.

A suicide truck bomb killed about 100 people, most of them Iranian Shia pilgrims, at a petrol station in the city of Hilla 100 km south of Baghdad on Thursday, police and medical sources said.

Islamic State, which considers all Shias to be apostates, claimed responsibility the attack in an online statement.

The group is also fighting off a U.S.-backed offensive on its stronghold Mosul, in northern Iraq, in which Iranian-trained Shia militias are taking part.

Medical sources said the pilgrims were en route back to Iran from the Iraqi Shia holy city of Kerbala, where they had commemorated Arbaeen, the 40th day of mourning for the killing of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, in the 7th century CE.

The gas station has a restaurant in its premises that is popular with travellers. Five pilgrim buses were torched by the force of the blast from the explosives-laden truck, a police official said.

Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the attack without giving a casualties toll. Tehran will continue to support Iraq's ''relentless fight against terrorism,” Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.</s>An Isis truck bomb at an Iraqi petrol station where buses filled with Shia pilgrims were parked has killed at least 80 people.

Only ten Iraqi nationals were among the victims, and many were Iranian visitors returning from the Arbaeen ceremony in Karbala, Iraqi security officials said on Thursday, although details on the identities of the dead are still emerging.

There has been an upswing in suicide and car bombs targeting civilians in Iraq since coalition forces began the operation to drive Isis out of the northern city of Mosul last month.

Isis was quick to claim the attack, the violence a stark reminder of the group's ability to inflict death and destruction even as their hold on territory in Iraq and Syria crumbles.

Iraqi police had stepped up security around the annual Arbaeen commemoration amid fears that Isis would target the estimated 17-20 million Shia visitors who descended on Karbala, 60 miles (100 kilometres) south of Baghdad last week.

The holy city is home to the tomb of Imam Hussein, and Arbaeen, which takes place a month after Ashoura, is one of the world's largest religous events. The final stage traditionally involving several days of walking from Basra to Karbala.

Around 25,000 security forces members were deployed to guard both pilgrims and the shrine itself in the town south of Baghdad, but many have since returned to the frontlines in the six-week-old coalition operation to retake the northern city of Mosul.

This year's commoration passed with fewer violent incidents that has been seen previously.</s>A suicide truck bomb killed more than 80 people, most of them Iranian Shi’ite pilgrims, at a petrol station in the city of Hilla 100 km (62 miles) south of Baghdad on Thursday, police and medical sources said.

Islamic State (IS), the ultra hardline Sunni militant group that considers all Shi’ites to be apostates, claimed responsibility the attack in an online statement.

The pilgrims were en route back to Iran from the Iraqi Shi’ite holy city of Kerbala, where they had commemorated Arbaeen, the 40th day of mourning for the killing of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, in the 7th century AD, the medical sources said.

The gas station has a restaurant in its premises that is popular with travelers. Five pilgrim buses were torched by the force of the blast from the explosives-laden truck, a police official said.

Islamic State has intensified attacks over the past month in areas out of its control in efforts to weaken a U.S.-backed military offensive launched on Oct. 17 to retake Mosul, the last major city under IS control in Iraq.</s>At least 57 people -- mostly Iranian Shi'ite pilgrims -- were killed when a truck bomb exploded at a gas station in Iraq, authorities said.

The blast happened Thursday on a highway between Babel and Al-Qadisiyyah, said Falah al Radhi, the head of the Babel security council. He said at least 50 people were also wounded.

The parked truck exploded near several buses carrying Shi'ite pilgrims, mostly Iranians, Radhi said. The Iranian pilgrims were in Iraq to mark the commemoration of Imam Hussein's death.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Developing story - more to come</s>Civilians search for survivors in the rubble at the scene of a suicide bomb attack near the city of Hilla that killed over 100 people. (Photo: AP)

Baghdad: A suicide truck bomb killed about 100 people, most of them Iranian Shi'ite pilgrims, at a petrol station in the city of Hilla 100 km (62 miles) south of Baghdad on Thursday, police and medical sources said.

Islamic State (IS), the ultra hardline Sunni militant group that considers all Shi'ites to be apostates, claimed responsibility the attack in an online statement.

The group is also fighting off a U.S.-backed offensive on its stronghold Mosul, in northern Iraq, in which Iranian-trained Shi'ite militias are taking part.

The pilgrims were en route back to Iran from the Iraqi Shi'ite holy city of Karbala, where they had commemorated Arbaeen, the 40th day of mourning for the killing of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, in the 7th century AD, the medical sources said.

The gas station has a restaurant in its premises that is popular with travellers. Five pilgrim buses were torched by the force of the blast from the explosives-laden truck, a police official said.

Islamic State has intensified attacks over the past month in areas out of its control in efforts to weaken the offensive launched on Oct. 17 to retake Mosul, the last major city under IS control in Iraq.

Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the attack without giving a casualties toll. Tehran will continue to support Iraq's ''relentless fight against terrorism," ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.
At least 80 Shia pilgrims are killed in a truck bomb attack in Iraq. Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claims responsibility.