Iranian officials say that during a suicide attack by the Islamic State (ISIS) on a gas station in Hilla, on the road between Karbala and Baghdad, approximately 40 Iranians have been killed while returning from the Arbaeen pilgrimage. According to Reuters, at least 100 people were killed in this attack, most of whom were Iranian pilgrims. Iraqi police sources reported that a bomb-laden vehicle exploded at a gas station in Hilla on Thursday, and this explosion was a result of a suicide operation. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack. In this context, the IRNA news agency, citing hospital sources in Hilla and Iranian consular sources, announced that about forty of the victims of the Thursday explosion in Hilla were Iranian. A hospital official in Hilla stated that the bodies of 59 of the victims were intact, but 15 bodies were dismembered, making identification difficult. Ali Asghar Ahmadi, Secretary-General of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, also told IRNA that severe burns on the victims of the 'terrorist incident near Karbala have hindered the identification of their identities.' Ahmadi also mentioned that 30 Iranians were injured in this incident, with five hospitalized in the Shomali area and 25 others in the city of Hilla. Mir Masoud Hosseinian, Iran's consul in Karbala, told IRNA that in this terrorist act, considering it occurred at a gas station, two buses, several minibuses, and several private vehicles were completely destroyed. He added that from the beginning of this incident, rescue and security forces have been present in the area, and a team from the Iranian consulate, along with Red Crescent forces, is on-site with the provincial governor and police of Babel. On November 7, eight Iranians were killed and nearly 100 injured in an explosion in Samarra, Iraq, for which ISIS also claimed responsibility. In recent years, many Iranians have traveled to Karbala for mourning ceremonies during Muharram and Safar, especially during Arbaeen, and visiting Shiite holy sites in other cities such as Samarra, Kazimayn, and Najaf is also part of the Iranian pilgrims' itinerary in Iraq.
About 40 Iranians Killed in ISIS Suicide Attack in Hilla, Iraq
A suicide attack by ISIS on a gas station in Hilla, Iraq, has resulted in the deaths of approximately 40 Iranian pilgrims returning from the Arbaeen ceremony. The attack, which killed at least 100 people, highlights the ongoing threat of ISIS in the region and the vulnerability of Iranian citizens abroad during religious pilgrimages.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A suicide attack by ISIS at a gas station in Hilla, Iraq, killed approximately 40 Iranian pilgrims returning from the Arbaeen pilgrimage. The attack resulted in at least 100 fatalities, underscoring the ongoing threat of ISIS in the region.
- The attack occurred on a busy pilgrimage route, targeting Iranian citizens.
- ISIS has claimed responsibility for this and a previous attack on Iranians in Samarra.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iranian pilgrims frequently travel to Iraq for religious ceremonies, especially during significant events like Arbaeen, which commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein. ISIS has historically targeted Shiite communities, exacerbating sectarian tensions.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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