More than a dozen civilians have lost their lives in a powerful bomb explosion that ripped through a residential neighborhood in Iraq�s central province of Karbala.

The Euphrates Operations Command said in a statement released on Monday that the incident took place in the town of Ayn Tamer, located 120 kilometers (74.5 miles) west of the provincial capital city of Karabala, the previous night, when five terrorists clad in explosives-laden vests attacked a wedding ceremony.

One of the assailants also hurled hand grenades at the site, fired gunshots from a Kalashnikov rifle, and blew himself up at last.

Iraqi security forces managed to gun down the four remaining attackers before they could inflict more causalities.

The provincial health directorate said at least 18 people were killed in the act of violence, while at least 26 others were wounded.

No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the assaults yet.

By Press TV