Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Iraqi officials say at least nine civilians have been killed when a Russian-made fighter jet accidentally dropped a bomb over a Baghdad neighborhood.

The incident took place on Monday in the eastern neighborhood of New Baghdad.

Military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Saad Maan Ibrahim, told The Associated Press that a technical failure caused the Sukhoi jet to malfunction and the bomb. The plane - one of several Sukhois used by Iraq in the fight against the Islamic State group - was returning to base when the accident happened.

A police officer at the scene and a medical official at a nearby hospital that along with the nine killed, a dozen other civilians were injured.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they are not authorized to talk to reporters.

*AP