At least 15 killed and 50 injured following multiple explosions in Baghdad

A series of attacks and explosions in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, on Friday, September 2, left at least 15 dead and over 50 injured. No group has yet claimed responsibility for these attacks. Baghdad police officials reported that at least three rockets targeted eastern Baghdad, resulting in the deaths of five people and injuring 15 others. This attack, which targeted a weapons depot, caused an explosion in the depot, and eyewitnesses reported that a massive cloud of smoke rose from the site. Eyewitnesses told the Associated Press that they saw militants at the scene. However, Agence France-Presse cited an Iraqi Interior Ministry official stating that it is still unclear whether the explosion in the weapons depot was due to an attack or a malfunction inside the depot. Simultaneously, another explosion occurred in the Sunni neighborhood of Ghazaliyah, leaving two dead and eight injured. Two other bomb explosions in a Baghdad vegetable market killed five people and injured 20 others. Baghdad police officials also reported another explosion in a commercial center in western Baghdad, which resulted in three deaths and eight injuries. According to Agence France-Presse, some of the dead and injured were civilians. These attacks occurred on the anniversary of the death of the ninth Imam of Shia Muslims. While no group has claimed responsibility for these explosions yet, in recent months, the Islamic State (ISIS) has been responsible for explosions in various cities in Iraq. In one of the deadliest attacks in July (about two months ago), for which ISIS claimed responsibility, nearly 300 people were killed in an explosion at a shopping center in Baghdad. These attacks come amid escalating clashes between Iraqi government forces and ISIS militants over the recapture of areas held by ISIS in recent months. The Islamic State (ISIS) has controlled areas in northern and western Iraq, including the city of Mosul, since 2014. Mosul, the center of Nineveh province, is the second-largest city in Iraq and is recognized as the center of ISIS in Iraq. Meanwhile, Iraqi government forces, supported by the air power of the U.S.-led coalition, successfully recaptured the city of Fallujah from ISIS about two months ago. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi stated that after the recapture of Fallujah from ISIS militants, the way would be clear for government forces to advance towards Mosul. However, it is still unclear when the operations of Iraqi security forces and the U.S.-led coalition to push back ISIS militants from Mosul will begin. Currently, the potential mass flight of residents from Mosul as the time for the liberation operation approaches is one of the biggest challenges facing Iraqi officials. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees warned on September 2 that the Mosul operation could lead to the 'largest unprecedented wave of civilian displacement' in recent years globally. The International Committee of the Red Cross also warned a month ago about the risk of the displacement of about one million residents of Mosul in the coming weeks and months due to the potential escalation of clashes over the city. According to this humanitarian organization, more than three million Iraqi citizens have been displaced within the country, and another ten million need humanitarian assistance. Iraq currently ranks third in the list of countries receiving the most aid from the International Red Cross.