Islamic State blasts targets Baghdad's Shia mourners

At least 10 people were killed after Islamic state suicide bombers struck two Shia-majority areas of the Iraqi capital on Monday, officials said, on the first day of the Shia mourning month of Muharram.

More than 30 were wounded in the blasts that rocked the Amil neighbourhood of southern Baghdad and the eastern Mashtal district where mourners gathered to commemorate the killing of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Hussain.

IS issued a statement claiming the attack, saying it targeted Shia Muslims whom the extremist group considers to be heretics.

Earlier this week a suicide bombing claimed by IS killed and wounded over 20 people in another Shia district of the capital.

"At least seven people were killed and 14 others were wounded by blasts from two explosive devices planted in the Qayyarah market in Sadr city east of Baghdad," an interior ministry source told The New Arab.

Iraqi forces were on high alert after sealing off the area, the source said, adding that the wounded were transferred to nearby hospitals. 

Since late last year, IS has suffered a string of territorial losses, most recently last month in Fallujah, where it was driven out by Iraqi forces after occupying the city for more than two years.

But in response to the losses IS has begun to carry out near-daily bombings in and around Baghdad, shifting tactics from capturing territory towards individual attacks to spread fear and chaos.