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November 2016 Hillah suicide truck bombing

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November 2016 Hillah suicide truck bombing
Part ofIraqi Civil War (2014–2017)
Location of Babil Governorate in Iraq
LocationHillah,Babil Governorate,Iraq
Date24 November 2016
TargetPetrol station
Attack type
Suicide truck bombing
WeaponsTruck bombs
Deaths125 (+1)[1]
Injured95+[1]
PerpetratorIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant

Asuicide bombingoccurred inIraqon 24 November 2016[2]when a truck bomb exploded at a petrol station inHillah,some 100 kilometers (62 miles) from southernBaghdad,killing at least 125 people and injuring many others.

Shiapilgrimswere en route back toIranafter the2016 Arba'een Pilgrimage.[3][4][5]Besides Iranians, people fromBasraandNasiriyahwere also killed in the attack.[6][7]

TheIslamic State of Iraq and the Levantclaimed responsibility for it.

Bombing[edit]

Thepilgrimswere on their way back to Iran from the holy city ofKarbalaafter participating in the annualArba'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 ofammonium nitrate.[1]

Reportedly, the Hillah suicide truck bombing happened a day after dozens of bombings in and around Baghdad by theIslamic State of Iraq and the Levantin 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[edit]

TheIslamic State of Iraq and the Levantclaimed responsibility for the attack.[5]

Motivation[edit]

Afterthe offensive launched on 17 Octoberto liberate the last remaining city in Iraq under ISIL control,Mosul,Daeshintensified their attacks aiming to weaken theMosul offensive.[8]

Reactions[edit]

  • Iran– Foreign Ministry spokesmanBahram Qasemicondemned the attack[8]and said that Iran would continue to support Iraq's "relentless fight against terrorism."[13]Furthermore, in a message, Iranian PresidentHassan Rouhanicriticized 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– TheWhite Houseissued a statement that read it condemns the attack saying the bombing "was clearly intended to stoke sectarian tensions."[15]
  • Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistanicondemned the Hilla attack and warned that the perpetrators would receive a response to their crimes on the battlegroundat Mosul.[16]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abc"Suicide truck bomber kills scores of Shia pilgrims in Iraq".The Guardian.24 November 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 13 April 2019.Retrieved24 November2016.
  2. ^"Iraq: Scores killed in petrol station Hilla attack".Al Jazeera. 25 November 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 24 November 2016.Retrieved24 November2016.
  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.Archivedfrom the original on 12 December 2018.Retrieved2 July2017.
  5. ^ab"Iraq suicide bomb: Shia pilgrims among nearly 80 dead".BBC News. 24 November 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 15 April 2018.Retrieved21 June2018.
  6. ^"Suicide attack leaves 100 dead in Iraq".Dawn News.November 25, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on November 25, 2016.RetrievedNovember 25,2016.
  7. ^(TNS), Dpa Correspondents, dpa (24 November 2016)."Death toll in central Iraq suicide bombing rises to 125".Archivedfrom the original on 2019-12-15.Retrieved2016-11-26.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^abc"Suicide truck bomb kills about 100 in Iraq, mostly Iranian pilgrims".Reuters.24 November 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 12 December 2018.Retrieved2 July2017.
  9. ^Hadi Mizban and Ali Abdul Hassan (November 24, 2016)."ISIS car bomb kills 56, including 20 Iranians, in Iraq".Los Angeles Daily News.Archivedfrom the original on November 25, 2016.RetrievedNovember 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 fromthe originalon November 26, 2016.RetrievedNovember 26,2016.
  11. ^"Millions throng Iraq shrine despite fears of IS attack".Pakistan Today.November 22, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on November 23, 2016.RetrievedNovember 26,2016.
  12. ^"Iraq truck bomb kills 70, mostly Iranian pilgrims".Times of Israel.November 24, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on November 25, 2016.RetrievedNovember 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.Archivedfrom the original on 26 November 2016.Retrieved25 November2016.
  14. ^"Iran's President Urges Stronger Action by Iraq after Hilla Terrorist Attack".Iran Front Page. November 26, 2016. Archived fromthe originalon November 27, 2016.RetrievedNovember 26,2016.
  15. ^"White house condemns attack on Iranian Shi'ite pilgrims in Iraq".Reuters.24 November 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 25 November 2016.Retrieved25 November2016.
  16. ^"Terrorists to receive punishment on battleground: Ayatollah Sistani".Muslim Times.November 26, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on November 28, 2016.RetrievedNovember 27,2016.

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