Car Bomb Explosion in Baghdad Kills 13 Shia Pilgrims

A car filled with explosives exploded in Baghdad on Monday, killing at least 13 Shia pilgrims who were attending a memorial ceremony for the seventh Imam of Shia Islam. The explosion also injured 28 others. According to the Associated Press, shortly after the explosion, the Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack in an online statement, stating that it was carried out by a suicide bomber. However, Iraqi officials rejected ISIS's claim, stating that the bomb-laden vehicle was detonated by a remote control device. Iraqi officials reported that the vehicle was parked in the 'Sidiya' neighborhood in southwest Baghdad and exploded shortly after noon. Tens of thousands of Shia pilgrims are heading to Kadhimayn in northern Baghdad to participate in the anniversary of the death of 'Musa Kazim.' Security forces, concerned about such attacks against Shia pilgrims, have closed many main roads in Baghdad to facilitate the movement of pilgrims walking towards the shrine of the seventh Imam. On Sunday, two car explosions in the city of Samawah in southern Iraq killed at least 31 people and left 52 injured, with ISIS claiming responsibility for that attack as well. According to Reuters, the anniversary of this religious ceremony led to protesters temporarily ending their sit-in and leaving the Green Zone in Baghdad on Sunday night. Following widespread protests in Baghdad, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and other political leaders promised on Sunday to implement political reforms. Protesters against the current situation in Iraq held an unprecedented gathering in the Green Zone on Saturday, occupying the parliament building. The political scene in Iraq has seen a struggle between Haider al-Abadi and political groups in recent months. He has attempted to replace party-affiliated ministers with technocrats in the fight against 'government corruption.' However, Iraqi parliament members, who have fundamental disagreements, have been unable to grant confidence to Abadi's proposed ministers. Meanwhile, according to the Associated Press, despite the Islamic State experiencing defeats in several areas of Iraq and being forced to leave parts of the country, they still control areas in northern and western Iraq, including Mosul, which is the second-largest city in Iraq with a population of over one million. The report states that ISIS has increased the intensity of its attacks in Baghdad to compensate for its recent losses. According to the United Nations, at least 741 Iraqis were killed in violent incidents in April, showing an increase compared to the previous month. The death toll in March was reported at 1,119, with 1,561 injured. The Associated Press notes that the highest number of casualties was reported in Baghdad, where violence in April resulted in the deaths of 232 civilians and injuries to 642 others. After Baghdad, the northern province of Nineveh, where nearly all areas are under ISIS control, has suffered the most casualties, with 72 killed and 30 injured in April.