IS claims Baghdad truck bomb attack

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a suicide attack south of Baghdad that left 17 people dead and 48 wounded.

The Site Intelligence group, which monitors extremist groups, reported the claim on Thursday in which the jihadist group warned Iraqi Shiites the "flame of the battle" in Mosul would come to them in Baghdad, Karbala and Najaf.

The truck bomb targeted a police checkpoint on the Iraqi capital's main southern entrance on Wednesday night.

Three policemen were among the dead, along with civilians and health officials.

The attack came as US-backed forces launched fierce fighting in western Mosul.

After the beginning the operation to retake Mosul in October, Iraqi authorities in January declared they had liberated eastern Mosul.