11 May 2016 Baghdad bombings

Last updated
May 2016 Baghdad bombings
Part of the Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017) and Persecution of Shias by the Islamic State
Location Baghdad, Iraq
Date11–17 May 2016
Target Shiites
Attack type
 Truck bombing, suicide bombing
Deaths103–110+ (11 May) [1]
101+ (17 May)
Total: 204–211+ killed
Injured165+ (11 May) [2]
194+ (17 May)
Total: 359+ injured
PerpetratorsIslamic State flag.svg  ISIS
Motive Anti-Shiism

In May 2016, the Islamic State conducted a series of bombing attacks in and around Shia neighbourhoods in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, killing and wounding hundreds. According to ISIL, attacks were aimed at Shia fighters. [1]

Contents

Background

Iraqi Shia militias were fighting alongside the Iraqi army against the Islamic State (ISIS). [1] The area of Sadr City saw repeated attacks targeting its Shia population. In February 2016 a pair of ISIL bombings in Sadr City killed 52 people. [1] The market bombed on 11 May is one of the main four outdoor shopping venues in Sadr City. [3]

11 May attacks

On 11 May 2016, a truck bombing, exploded in a crowded outdoor market in the eastern part of Sadr City, killing mostly women and children. [1] Later in the day, a suicide attack occurred in the Shiite Kadhimiya neighborhood, killing 18 and wounding 43. [4] In the Jamea district in western Baghdad, another car bomb went off in the afternoon, killing at least 13 people. [5] At least seven people were killed and twenty others were wounded in the car bomb explosion that took place in al-Rabie’ street in western Baghdad. [6]

According to an eyewitness, the bomb in Sadr City was placed in a pickup truck loaded with fruit and vegetables. [7] The truck had parked and then its driver quickly disappeared among the crowd, according to an eyewitness [7] who also noted that the explosion jolted the ground. [3] The responsibility for the attack was claimed by ISIL, which released a related statement on social media saying it intended to target Shiite fighters. [1] Iraqi officials denied ISIL's claim that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber. [3]

There were also many attacks outside of Baghdad of the same day, some attributed to ISIL. Five mortar shells fell near residential houses in the vicinity near Baqubah, resulting in the death of two civilians and wounding three others. [8] An explosive device that was emplaced on the roadside near Baqubah went off while a taxi was passing in the area, resulting in the injury of two persons that were inside it. [9] Five young civilians volunteered to shoot five Iraqi soldiers, accused of apostasy, in their heads for ISIL. [10]

17 May attacks

A suicide bombing in the all-Shia northern district of Sha'ab killed 41 people and wounded more than 70. A car bomb in the all-Shia neighborhood Sadr City left at least 30 dead and 57 wounded. Another car bomb in the majority-Shia suburb al-Rashid, south of the capital, killed six and wounded 21. [11] A parked car bomb struck a market in the neighborhood of Dora, in southern Baghdad, killing eight people and wounding 22 others. A suicide bomber targeted a restaurant in the Habibiya neighborhood, killing nine and wounding 18. [12] A bomb blast killed one person and wounded another in al-Rashid, south of Baghdad. [13] A bomb exploded near a popular market in the all-Shia neighborhood al-Amin in eastern Baghdad, killing two people and wounding seven others. [14]

Related Research Articles

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The following lists events the happened in 2013 in Iraq.

This article lists terrorist incidents in Iraq in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of the War in Iraq (2014)</span>

The Timeline of the War in Iraq covers the War in Iraq, a war which erupted that lasted in Iraq from 2013 to 2017, during the first year of armed conflict.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Ramadi (2015–2016)</span> Battle between Iraq and ISIL

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anbar campaign (2015–2016)</span> Military campaign

The Anbar campaign (2015–2016) was a military campaign launched by the Iraqi Armed Forces and their allies aimed at recapturing areas of the Anbar Governorate held by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), including the city of Ramadi, which ISIL seized earlier in 2015. The United States and other nations aided Iraq with airstrikes.

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This article lists terrorist incidents in Iraq during 2016:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Fallujah (2016)</span> Offensive that the Iraqi government launched against ISIL

The siege of Fallujah was an offensive launched in February 2016 by the Iraqi government against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in al-Karmah and in the city of Fallujah, with the aim of enforcing a siege of the latter. During the early stages of the operation, local Sunni residents revolted against ISIL for a period of three days. On 22 May, after completing preparations around the city, the Iraqi Army and supporting Shi'ite militias launched the third Battle of Fallujah.

On 28 February 2016, at least 70 people were killed and 60 wounded in Sadr City, a southern suburb of Baghdad, as two bombs went off at a crowded market. The explosions ripped through a market selling mobile phones in the mainly Shiite Muslim district. The assailants were suicide bombers riding motorcycles through the crowd.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Karrada bombing</span> 2016 bombing in Karrada, Iraq

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On 7 July 2016, at least 56 people were killed and 75 injured after a group of attackers stormed the Mausoleum of Sayid Mohammed bin Ali al-Hadi, a Shia holy site in Balad, Iraq. The attackers included suicide car bombers, suicide bombers on foot, and several gunmen. They attacked Shia pilgrims celebrating Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. There were three suicide bombers, and one of them was killed by security personnel. There were other attackers too. ISIL also launched several mortars into the area.

On 15 October 2016, four attacks in and around Baghdad, Iraq, resulted in the deaths of at least 60 victims and at least seven attackers, while injuring at least 80 more people. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) are believed to be behind the suicide bombing and two mass shootings.

This is a timeline of events during the War in Iraq of 2013 to 2017 in its final year.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Islamic State Claims Baghdad Bombing That Killed at Least 103". The Wall Street Journal . May 11, 2016. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Additional Bombings Bring Death Toll to 93 Across Baghdad". The New York Times. May 11, 2016. Archived from the original on May 18, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 "Amid political deadlock, ISIS slaughters Shiites in Baghdad". CBS News . May 11, 2016. Archived from the original on May 12, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  4. ↑ Jomana Karadsheh, Joshua Berlinger and Ashley Fantz. "ISIS says it's behind deadly Iraq blasts". CNN. Archived from the original on October 13, 2017. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Baghdad bombing: Market blast claimed by IS kills 94". The Indian Express . 12 May 2016. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  6. ↑ Adel, Loaa. "Rabie' street explosion kills 7 people and wounds 20 others in western Baghdad". Iraqi News. Archived from the original on October 12, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  7. 1 2 "IS conflict: Dozens killed in Baghdad car bombings". BBC. May 11, 2016. Archived from the original on May 11, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  8. ↑ Sarhan, Amre. "Mortar shell fall kills, wounds 5 civilians in Bahraz vicinity south of Baqubah". Iraqi News. Archived from the original on May 12, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  9. ↑ Sarhan, Amre. "Car bombing wounds 2 persons in Jizaniy village northeast of Baqubah". Iraqi News. Archived from the original on May 12, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  10. ↑ Sam Prince. "WATCH: New ISIS Video Selects Civilians to Execute 5 'Apostates'". Heavy.com. Archived from the original on 2017-01-10. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
  11. ↑ Kareem Raheem (17 May 2016). "After bombings in Baghdad kill 77, Sadr's forces deploy in some areas". Reuters. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  12. ↑ "Wave of Bombings in Baghdad Kill 69". ABC News. Archived from the original on 21 May 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  13. ↑ Amre Sarhan (17 May 2016). "Bomb blast kills 1 person, wounds another in al-Rashid south of Baghdad". Iraqi News. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  14. ↑ Abdelhak Mamoun (17 May 2016). "9 people killed, wounded in bomb blast in eastern Baghdad". Iraqi News. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
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