Two Suicide Bombings in Baghdad Leave at Least 38 Dead

Iraqi medical and police officials reported that two suicide bombers detonated themselves on Monday, January 15, in a crowded market in central Baghdad, resulting in at least 38 deaths. This is the deadliest attack since the Iraqi government declared victory over the Islamic State group, ISIS, last month. The two consecutive suicide bombings occurred two days after a similar attack on a police checkpoint in northern Baghdad that left eight dead. No group has claimed responsibility for these attacks yet, but there is suspicion that the Islamic State group may be involved, as in previous suicide operations. The bombings took place during peak hours at Tayaran Square in Baghdad, where workers typically gather to seek employment. Iraqi officials stated that the explosions also resulted in at least 150 injuries. Reports indicate that ambulances quickly reached the scene, and security forces cordoned off the explosion sites with yellow tape. The sidewalks were stained with blood while street cleaners attempted to quickly clean up the area and collect debris. The explosions on Monday have shocked the residents of Iraq's capital, as the recapture of areas previously occupied by the Islamic State had significantly reduced the frequency of suicide attacks. Salim al-Jabouri, the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, condemned the attacks, stating, 'This is a cowardly act against innocent people,' and called for the government to take all necessary security measures. The German Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks and expressed condolences to the victims' families. The suicide bombing on Monday in Baghdad is the deadliest since a truck bomb explosion in the Karrada neighborhood of Baghdad in July 2016, which left at least 324 dead. The Karrada bombing was also the deadliest single attack in Iraq since the U.S. invasion and the fall of Saddam Hussein. Iraqi and American officials have warned that despite Baghdad's and the U.S.-led coalition's success in clearing the Islamic State group from Iraq, ISIS forces can continue their guerrilla attacks. The costs of this victory are nearly incalculable, as three years of war against ISIS have left many northern and western regions of Iraq—almost one-third of the country—in ruins that were previously under the group's control.