November 2016 Hillah suicide truck bombing

November 2016 Hillah suicide truck bombing
Part of Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017) and Persecution of Shias by the Islamic State
Location of Babil Governorate in Iraq
Location	Hillah, Babil Governorate, Iraq
Date	24 November 2016
Target	Petrol station
Attack type	Suicide truck bombing
Weapons	Truck bombs
Deaths	125 (+1) [1]
Injured	95+ [1]
Perpetrator	Islamic State

A suicide bombing occurred in Iraq on 24 November 2016 ^[2] when a truck bomb exploded at a petrol station in Hillah, some 100 kilometers (62 miles) from southern Baghdad, killing at least 125 people and injuring many others.

Shia pilgrims were en route back to Iran after the 2016 Arba'een Pilgrimage. ^{[3] [4] [5]} Besides Iranians, people from Basra and Nasiriyah were also killed in the attack. ^{[6] [7]}

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for it.

Bombing

The pilgrims were on their way back to Iran from the holy city of Karbala after participating in the annual Arba'een Pilgrimage. According to a police official, five buses filled with pilgrims stopped by a famous restaurant, next to a petrol station, burst into flames after the detonation of an "explosives-laden truck". ^[8] According to a report, the bomb had been packed with 500 liters of ammonium nitrate. ^[1]

Reportedly, the Hillah suicide truck bombing happened a day after dozens of bombings in and around Baghdad by the Islamic State in which 31 people were killed and over 100 injured. ^{[9] [10]} There were some attacks during Arba'een this year, but these were insignificant compared to incidents in previous years. Despite ongoing dangers, people from around the world continued their journey to Karbala. ^[11] According to Iraqi officials, approximately three million Iranians visited Iraq, making them the largest contingent of foreigners at the Arba'een Pilgrimage in 2016. ^[12]

Perpetrator

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. ^[5]

Motivation

After the offensive launched on 17 October to liberate the last remaining city in Iraq under IS control, Mosul, IS intensified their attacks aiming to weaken the Mosul offensive. ^[8]

Reactions

•   Iran – Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi condemned the attack ^[8] and said that Iran would continue to support Iraq's "relentless fight against terrorism." ^[13] Furthermore, in a message, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani criticized the attack stating that it is a sign of frustration among the terrorists who could not bear the peaceful rituals managed and observed in the city of Karbala during the current Arbaeen pilgrimage. ^[14]
•   United States – The White House issued a statement that read it condemns the attack saying the bombing "was clearly intended to stoke sectarian tensions." ^[15]
• Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani condemned the Hilla attack and warned that the perpetrators would receive a response to their crimes on the battleground at Mosul. ^[16]

See also

• List of Islamist terrorist attacks
• List of mass car bombings
• List of terrorist incidents in November 2016
• List of terrorist incidents linked to the Islamic State
• March 2016 Hillah suicide truck bombing
• 2005 Al Hillah bombing
• Number of terrorist incidents by country
• Terrorist incidents in Iraq in 2016
• Timeline of ISIL-related events (2016)
• Timeline of the Iraq War (2016)

References

1. "Suicide truck bomber kills scores of Shia pilgrims in Iraq". The Guardian. 24 November 2016. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
2. "Iraq: Scores killed in petrol station Hilla attack". Al Jazeera. 25 November 2016. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
3. "Suicide Truck Bomb Kills More Than 80 in Iraq, Most of Them Iranian Pilgrims". The New York Times. Reuters. 24 November 2016.
4. "Suicide truck bomb kills more than 80 in Iraq, most of them Iranian pilgrims". Reuters. 24 November 2016. Archived from the original on 12 December 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
5. "Iraq suicide bomb: Shia pilgrims among nearly 80 dead". BBC News. 24 November 2016. Archived from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
6. "Suicide attack leaves 100 dead in Iraq". Dawn News. November 25, 2016. Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
7. (TNS), Dpa Correspondents, dpa (24 November 2016). "Death toll in central Iraq suicide bombing rises to 125". Archived from the original on 2019-12-15. Retrieved 2016-11-26.{{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
8. "Suicide truck bomb kills about 100 in Iraq, mostly Iranian pilgrims". Reuters. 24 November 2016. Archived from the original on 12 December 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
9. Hadi Mizban and Ali Abdul Hassan (November 24, 2016). "ISIS car bomb kills 56, including 20 Iranians, in Iraq". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
10. Brian Rohan and Murtada Faraj (November 24, 2016). "Death toll in Iraq bombing claimed by IS rises to 73". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on November 26, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
11. "Millions throng Iraq shrine despite fears of IS attack". Pakistan Today. November 22, 2016. Archived from the original on November 23, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
12. "Iraq truck bomb kills 70, mostly Iranian pilgrims". Times of Israel. November 24, 2016. Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
13. "Islamic State claims suicide truck bomb that killed about 100 in Iraq, mostly Iranian Shi'ite pilgrims". CNBC. Reuters. 24 November 2015. Archived from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
14. "Iran's President Urges Stronger Action by Iraq after Hilla Terrorist Attack". Iran Front Page. November 26, 2016. Archived from the original on November 27, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
15. "White house condemns attack on Iranian Shi'ite pilgrims in Iraq". Reuters. 24 November 2016. Archived from the original on 25 November 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
16. "Terrorists to receive punishment on battleground: Ayatollah Sistani". Muslim Times. November 26, 2016. Archived from the original on November 28, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016.