Multiple Bombings Rock Baghdad Neighborhoods

Four separate explosions occurred in Baghdad in the early morning of May 17^th, 2016, claiming at least 70 lives and wounding more than 100. The first two explosions, and the deadliest of the attacks, occurred in a Shia area in the northern Shaad village. Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the conjoined suicide and car bombings, stating they used a male Iraqi bomber and were targeting Shia militia members; however, Iraqi government authorities claim the bomber was female. The Associated Press, reported that IS claims so far remain unverified, but the IS accreditation appeared on a “jihadist” website, according to SITE Intelligence Group.

The Shaad attacks were followed by a car bombing in a market in the Shia-dominated city of Dora, as well as a suicide car bombing in a Shia neighborhood in Sadr city. The victims of the attacks remain anonymous, as well as all of the attackers involved; however these attacks also bear the marks of previous IS attacks.

Today’s bombing was just one of several in the past week, and combined, terrorist attacks in or around Baghdad have claimed almost 200 in that seven day period.

Iraqi officials and the Western coalition believe that IS is reverting to bombing in populated areas, such as Baghdad, because they are losing ground on the battlefield along Iraq’s northern and western borders. After IS rapidly captured regions of Iraq in 2014, the group has had its territorial stake cut in half. Most recently, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and allied militias issued statements indicating increased pressure in Rutba, a town near the Iraqi western border which was captured by IS two years ago and has been in their control since.

Other countries near IS contested borders face similar attacks in prominent cities. Sunday, a bomb blast in the Istanbul district of Maltepe wounded four people. Following attacks, Turkish police issued a nationwide warning about possible Islamic State attacks on the national holiday this Thursday. They perceive a credible threat in all 81 provinces, and are ramping up security for the celebrations.

Promises of increased security and fighting of IS and other Sunni militants come only at a time of political crisis in Iraq. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi states that deadlock in parliament is slowing down the fighting against IS, as he attempts to reshuffle his cabinet to drive out corruption. Reclaiming cities, such as Rutba, appear hopeful, but only seem to create more terrorist activity in city centers and Shia regions. Confidence in Prime Minister al-Abadi continues to waver following demonstrations in the Green Zone by Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr over two weeks ago. Since then, Iraq’s parliament has yet to meet, only deepening the tensions among citizens and politicians alike.