Suicide bomber targets checkpoint near Iraq's oil-rich Basra

A bomber detonated his explosives-laden car on Friday at a checkpoint north of Basra, Lt. Gen. Jamil al-Shimmari of the Basra Operations Command said on Saturday.

Five civilians and three officers were killed in the attack, Shimmari said.

A second attacker drove down a desert road after the explosion, and security forces killed him, Shimmari added.

Basra is home to about 70 percent of Iraq's oil reserves of 153.1 billion barrels.

In an online statement, Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying its aim was to target Iraqi Shias, which make up the overwhelming majority of Basra's population.

Bombings in Basra have become rare, in part due to tight security in the southern city.

The group also claimed responsibility for the double suicide bombings in Baghdad overnight that killed at least 19 people and wounded 33.

IS has carried out similar attacks targeting Iraqi security forces in the past. Iraqi and coalition officials have warned that as IS loses ground in Iraq the group will increasingly return to its insurgent roots.

Iraqi forces are currently struggling to push back IS militants in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, the last pocket of significant urban territory the group holds in Iraq.