More than 80 people are now reported dead in southern Iraq where so-called Islamic State claimed responsibility for three suicide attacks on Thursday.<br /><br />The killers are said to have worn security force uniforms and driven stolen army vehicles as they targeted a police checkpoint and restaurants near the city of Nassiriya.<br /><br />Hospital sources say at least 10 Iranian pilgrims, who were visiting holy Shi’ite shrines, are among the dead.<br /><br />According to eyewitness Firas Ahmed: “There were four buses of Iranian pilgrims. The gunmen boarded and sprayed those inside with bullets, while others in pick-up trucks drove by, firing on the people.<br /> “Then they walked into the restaurant, opening fire on those inside, the young and the old, sparing no one. Everyone here were killed”.<br /><br />At least 100 people were injured, the police said in a statement.<br /><br />ISIS is near defeat in Iraq. Now comes the hard part. https://t.co/0AYd7MLIta— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) 14 septembre 2017<br /><br />ISIL claimed responsibility in a statement on its Amaq news agency. The group said it had killed “dozens of Shi’ites”.<br /><br />The group’s activity is usually concentrated in western and northern Iraq. Bomb attacks in the mostly Shi’ite south have been relatively rare. <br /><br />But Iraqi and Kurdish security officials say the Sunni militants are now likely to wage a guerrilla war after losing control of their former stronghold in Mosul.<br /><br />with Reuters<br />
