Catastrophic ISIL truck bomb intercepted before launching deadly attack

Iraqi soldiers have purportedly captured a massive ISISL truck bomb with the potential to cause untold damage and death.

IR Shia has published video of the dump truck, fully laden with a deadly explosive cargo of fuel and gas canisters.

The large truck, with wheels as tall as soldiers who climb aboard the vehicle, appears to be hidden in the ground floor of a derelict building.

Over the weekend Islamic State claimed attacks at two Baghdad markets in which 20 people were killed, the latest in a spate of bombings.

ISIL has ramped up the bombing attack tactics as it comes under pressure in Mosul, its last major stronghold in Iraq.

Units of Iraq's elite counter-terrorism service (CTS) have fought their way to the eastern bank of the Tigris.

It was the first time Iraqi troops in the city itself have reached the river, which bisects Mosul, since the offensive to drive out Islamic State was launched in October. Iraqi forces already control the Tigris to Mosul's south.

Life in eastern districts recaptured from Islamic State in recent weeks has regained a semblance of normalcy. Traffic wound through the streets just a few kilometres from heavy clashes, and reopened grocery stores again dot block corners.

In Baghdad, a suicide attacker killed 13 people when he drove an explosives-rigged car into vegetable market in the mainly Shi'ite Muslim eastern Jamila district, and detonated it.

A few hours afterwards, a suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest blew himself up at a market in another mostly Shi'ite district, Baladiyat, killing seven, according to police and medical sources.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for that attack as well, according to the U.S. based SITE Intelligence Group.

More than 80 people have been killed in just over a week in attacks in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities.

- With Reuters