At least 50 people including Iranians were killed Thursday in twin gun and car bomb attacks claimed by Daesh near the city of Nasiriyah in southern Iraq, local officials said.

"The toll has now reached 50 dead and 87 wounded," Abdel Hussein al-Jabri, deputy health chief for the mainly Shiite province of Dhiqar of which Nasiriyah is the capital, said.

He warned that the death toll could rise as many of the wounded were in serious condition.

The terrorist group's news agency Amaq said the attacks were carried out by Daesh members.

The first attack struck close to a restaurant while shortly afterwards a car bomb targeted a security checkpoint in the same area, officials said.

Security sources said the attackers were disguised as members of the Hashed al-Shaabi, mainly Shiite paramilitary units which have fought alongside the army and police against Daesh to the north of Baghdad.

The area targeted is used by Shiite pilgrims and visitors from neighboring Iran headed for the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala further north, although Dhiqar has previously been spared the worst of the violence.