ISIL has claimed responsibility for a suicide car bombing near oilfields in southern Basra province.

Civilians and members of the Iraqi security forces were among several killed in the attack and officials say police in the area have been put on maximum alert.

One man, whose sister has been missing since the attack, told reporters:
“When we arrived here we saw the bus burning. When we entered it, we saw three to four bodies. They were charred beyond recognition. We could not extract them. They were blackened.”

Meanwhile, Iraqi forces are pushing further into Mosul, ISIL’s last major stronghold in the country.

They say they are hoping to claim victory within two weeks.

But the offensive has also created an upsurge in the numbers fleeing the northern city, leaving aid agencies struggling to cope.

Up to 200,000 people are expected to leave in the coming days.