World

Deadly blasts kill at least 90 in northern Baghdad

These attacks on Shia-held territory could reflect ISIS’s desperation to interrupt the efforts of the U.S. coalition and Iraqi government.

This week, ISIS claimed responsibility of at least 90 deaths and over 100 injuries resulting from two car bombs and a suicide bomber targeting Shia areas within Baghdad on May 10, 2016. CNN reported,

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At least 64 people were killed when a car bomb went off at a market in Baghdad, according to Iraqi police. Another 87 people were wounded in that attack in the largely Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City.

Later in the day, a suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest detonated in a busy square in the Shiite neighborhood of al-Kadhimiya, killing 17 people and wounding 43 others, two police officials in Baghdad told CNN.

A suicide car bomber exploded in the Sunni neighborhood of al-Jamia in western Baghdad, killing 12 people and wounding 31 others. The attackers targeted a checkpoint manned by Shiites.

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As ISIS territory diminishes across Iraq, one would expect ISIS attacks to diminish as well. However, Shia are and will always be targeted by ISIS not only for their differences in beliefs, but also because of the Shia militias that continue to pursue ISIS throughout Iraq and Syria. These attacks could reflect ISIS’s desperation to disrupt the efforts of the U.S. coalition and Iraqi government. Such a significant loss of life and the security breech could also help other stake holders such as Muqtada al Sadr gain followers as many believe that the Iraqi government is not doing enough to protect it’s citizens from ISIS.

This video below shows the aftermath following one of the car bombings in Baghdad. (Warning: graphic images)

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM_e1aM_GBY&oref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DnM_e1aM_GBY&has_verified=1

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