The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a deadly car bomb blast Monday near the oil hub of Basra, a southern Shia region where it was thought to have little or no reach.

"The soldiers of the caliphate managed to detonate a parked car bomb amidst a gathering of polytheist Rafidha in Basra," said the statement posted on social media.

IS routinely uses the term Rafidha to refer to Shiite Muslims.

According to security officials, at least 10 people were killed when a car bomb exploded in a market area in the town of Zubayr, just southwest of Basra.