Explosions in Baghdad Leave Dozens Dead and Injured

Security sources and media in Iraq reported on Friday, January 30, the occurrence of two bomb explosions in central Baghdad, the capital of the country, which left dozens dead and injured. The exact number of casualties from these explosions is still unclear, and media reports vary significantly, with the latest report from the German news agency stating at least 44 victims, while Reuters claims that the dead number at least 12, with around 30 others injured. The German news agency writes that today's explosions in Baghdad also left 70 wounded, and some of the victims were Iraqi security forces. The report cites the independent news agency Sumaria in Iraq, stating that the mentioned attacks occurred in the large market area of Bab al-Sharqi, a place for buying and selling second-hand military equipment. Reuters also reports that the second explosion was caused by a car bomb. The news agency states that the Bab al-Sharqi area is adjacent to Baghdad's Green Zone, where many government buildings are located. On the same day, the city of Samarra in Iraq also witnessed several bomb explosions that resulted in the death of four police officers. The French news agency, citing Iraqi police sources, reported that a suicide bomber attacked a police station at the entrance of Samarra with a car bomb. Concurrently, two other attacks occurred on a police headquarters inside the city, resulting in the deaths of four police officers and injuries to nine others. Iraq also witnessed bloody incidents on Thursday, with at least 21 people killed in various parts of the country due to bomb explosions. Meanwhile, Iraq is embroiled in a civil war with the Islamic State group, which has seized parts of the country, including the major city of Mosul. The death of a Kurdish commander in Iraq was reported, with officials from the Kurdistan region stating that during battles between Kurdish forces and the Islamic State group in northern Iraq, a senior Kurdish commander was killed. The Associated Press identified this commander as General Shirko Fateh, who led the Peshmerga forces in the fight against ISIS extremists. The report states that General Fateh was killed on Friday morning outside the city of Kirkuk. In this battle that led to Mr. Fateh's death, at least eight other Kurdish forces were also killed. In the same context, dozens were killed in attacks on Shiites in Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and Iraq. A suicide car bomb in Erbil left five dead. Iraqi forces recaptured two cities in the Diyala province from ISIS. The Pentagon reported that ISIS has lost one percent of its territory in Iraq. The Prime Minister of Iraq stated that both the West and Iran are assisting against ISIS.