Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, bombings have killed thousands, including forces of U.S-led coalition, officials of Iraqi federal government and civilians. Suicide bombings have been used as a tactic in other armed struggles, but their frequency and lethality in Iraq is unprecedented.[1] During the invasion, the United States and United Kingdom dropped 29,199 bombs.[2] The article does not list these, but concentrates on the smaller number of insurgent bombings during the post-invasion phase of the Iraqi conflict (2003–present).
Most of the bombings were carried out by Sunni insurgents and Sunni Islamist organizations such as Jama'at al-Tawhid wal Jihad, Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Jama'at Ansar al-Sunna, and the Islamic State of Iraq. The main targets of the bombings were the forces of the U.S.-led coalition and those collaborating with it. The Islamic State of Iraq organization also targeted Shia civilians.
Perpetrators
A 2005 Human Rights Watch report analysed the insurgency in Iraq and highlighted, "The groups that are most responsible for the abuse, namely al-Qaeda in Iraq and its allies, Ansar al-Sunna and the Islamic State of Iraq, have all targeted civilians for abductions and executions. The first two groups have repeatedly boasted about massive car bombs and suicide bombs in mosques, markets, bus stations and other civilian areas. Such acts are war crimes and in some cases may constitute crimes against humanity, which are defined as serious crimes committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population."[3]
Analysis
A 2008 RAND Research brief on counterinsurgency in Iraq: 2003 - 2006[4] depicts a chart that shows in June and July 2004, Iraqi insurgents began to shift their focus away from attacking U.S. and coalition forces with roadside bombs and instead began targeting the Iraqi population with suicide bombers and vehicle-borne IEDs. By increasing the number of suicide bombings against civilians and accepting their targeting in retribution, the insurgents sought to expose the weakness of the coalition-Iraqi security and reconstruction apparatus, threaten those who collaborated with the government, generate funds and propaganda, and increasingly enact sectarian revenge. The U.S. failure to adapt to this shift had dramatic consequences. By June 2004, U.S. deaths represented less than 10% of overall deaths on the battlefield and Iraqi deaths represented more than 90% - a figure that remained constant for the next 18 months of the War.
An analysis by Iraq Body Count and co-authors published in 2011 concluded that at least 12,284 civilians were killed in at least 1,003 suicide bombings in Iraq between 2003 and 2010. The study reveals that suicide bombings kill 60 times as many civilians as soldiers [5][6]
Bombings
This article lists all major bombings of the Second Iraq War. For bombings that occurred following the withdrawal of US troops see List of bombings during the Iraqi Insurgency (2011-present)
See also
References
- ↑ Williams, Carol J. (June 2, 2005). "Suicide attacks soaring in Iraq". Post-gazette.com. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ↑ Off Target: The Conduct of the War and Civilian Casualties in Iraq, Part II: Conduct of the Air War (Report). Human Rights Watch. December 2003. ISBN 1564322939. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
- ↑ "Iraq: Insurgent Groups Responsible for War Crimes". Human Rights News. October 3, 2005. Retrieved August 29, 2006.
- ↑ Pirnie, Bruce R.; O'Connell, Edward (17 January 2008). "Counterinsurgency in Iraq (2003-2006)". Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- ↑ "Casualties of suicide bombings in Iraq, 2003-2010". iraqbodycount.org. September 3, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
- ↑ "Casualties in civilians and coalition soldiers from suicide bombings in Iraq, 2003—10: a descriptive study". The Lancet. September 3, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
- ↑ "Baghdad blast kills 10 at Jordanian Embassy". CNN. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "The Canal Hotel Bombing in Iraq remains carved in the collective memory of the United Nations family". Minurso.com. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Najaf bombing kills Shiite leader, followers say". CNN. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Background: Deadly Attacks in Iraq". PBS. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Attack on Italian police kills 26 in Iraq / Gasoline truck crashes into compound". SFGate. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Karbala attacks kill 12, wound dozens". CNN. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Death toll climbs in Iraq suicide blasts". CNN. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Deadly attacks rock Baghdad, Karbala". CNN. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Scores killed in Iraqi bombings". BBC. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Multiple attacks kill 100 in Iraq". BBC. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Dozens die in Iraq mosque bombing". BBC. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Scores killed in Iraq bomb attack". BBC. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Car Bomb Kills at Least 47 at a Police Headquarters in Baghdad". New York Times. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Dozens of children killed in bomb attack in Baghdad". CBC. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Bombs in Karbala, Najaf kill 67". CNN. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Bomber of Mess Hall Was Reportedly Saudi". LA Times. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "26 killed in Baghdad blasts". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Deadliest Single Attack Since Fall of Hussein Kills More Than 120". NY Times. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Death Toll Rises to 100 in Suicide Blast in Iraq". Washington Post. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Triple Baghdad blasts kill dozens". BBC. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Iraq suicide attacks kill dozens". BBC. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Insurgents Kill 140 as Iraq Clashes Escalate". Washington Post. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Iraqi shrine bombing spurs wave of sectarian reprisals". CBC. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Dozens die in Iraq mosque attack". BBC. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Car Bombing Kills Dozens in Baghdad Market". Washington Post. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Baghdad curfew after bombing wave". BBC. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Double bombing at university kills 60 in Baghdad". Reuters. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Scores killed in Iraq bloodshed". Reuters. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Scores Killed in Baghdad Market Blast". ABC News. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Dozens killed in Baghdad bombings". BBC. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Baghdad car bombs leave 60 dead". BBC. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "25 Worst Acts Of Terrorism Ever Committed". list25. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "25 Worst Acts Of Terrorism Ever Committed". BBC. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Death toll rises to 82 from Baghdad blasts". Khaleejtimes. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "Suicide bomber kills Iraqi MPs". Telegraph. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Suicide attack on Iraqi holy city". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Suspected Qaeda bombs kill nearly 200 in Baghdad". Reuters. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Bomb kills many in Iraq holy city". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Bomb kills many in Iraq holy city". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Iraq bombers topple Samarra minarets". Yahoo. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Iraq market truck bomb kills 105". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Truck bomb kills at least 80 in Kirkuk". CNN. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "In Iraq, death tolls often in dispute". CSMonitor. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Car bombs kill dozens in Baghdad". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Al-Qaeda blamed for Yazidi carnage". Thescotsman. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Car bombs kill at least 46, injure 149 in southern Iraq". Boston. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Twin bombs kill scores in Baghdad". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Iraq town hit by deadly car bomb". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Baghdad Blast Toll Rises". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Dozens killed near Iraqi shrine". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Baghdad bus stop bomb 'kills 51'". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Bombers kill Iraq army recruits". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "31 Killed in Car Bomb Attack on Iraq Shiite Enclave". NY Times. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "At least 55 killed in Iraq restaurant bombing". NBC News. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Baghdad police attack 'kills 28'". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Six car bombs kill 34 across Baghdad". Reuters. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Suicide bombs kill scores in Iraq". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "'Many dead' in Iraq truck bombing". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Baghdad market bomb kills scores". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Kirkuk bombed amid US pullout". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Dozens killed in Iraqi bombings". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "95 killed on Iraq's deadliest day since U.S. handover". CNN. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Baghdad bomb fatalities pass 150". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Al-Qaeda group claims Iraq attack". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Triple bomb blasts rock Baghdad". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ↑ "54 killed as suicide bomber targets Shiite pilgrims in Iraq". LA Times. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ↑ "Suicide bombings kill 31 as Iraq elections near". LA Times. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ↑ "Dozens killed in Baghdad in 'revenge al-Qaeda attacks'". BBC. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ↑ "At least 100 killed in Iraqi violence". BBC. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ↑ "Fresh Iraq bombings hit Shia pilgrims in Baghdad". BBC. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ↑ "Scores killed in attack on army recruitment centre". France24. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ↑ "Dozens killed in wave of bombings across Iraq". BBC. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ↑ "Twin blasts in Baghdad 'kill 23'". BBC. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ↑ "Twin blasts in Baghdad 'kill 23'". BBC. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ↑ "At least 113 killed in series of Baghdad attacks". LA Times. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ↑ "Suicide bomber kills dozens in Tikrit". Washington Post. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ↑ "Baquba ambulance suicide bomber targets Iraq police". BBC. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ↑ "Karbala bombs kill dozens during Shia commemorations". BBC. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ↑ "Bombings Strike Shiite Pilgrims at Iraqi City". NY Times. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ↑ "Bomb at Baghdad funeral in Shia Muslim area kills 48". BBC. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ↑ "Death toll rises to 48 in Iraq suicide bombing". Reuters. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ↑ "Dozens killed in attack on Tikrit council". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ↑ "Al Qaeda in Iraq claims Hilla attack, vows revenge". Dawn. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ "Attack in Iraq Kills Dozens Near House of Governor". NY Times. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ "35 dead in Iraq double bomb attacks". SMH. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ "FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, August 15". Trust.org. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ "Baghdad mosque attack: Suicide bomber kills at least 28". BBC. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ "Deadly explosions hit Iraq's Karbala city". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ "Deadly explosions hit Iraq's Karbala city". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ "FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, Oct 14". Reliefweb. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ "Security developments in Iraq, October 12". Trust.org. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ "Security developments in Iraq, October 14". Trust.org. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ "Bombs in Iraqi southern city of Basra kill 19". BBC. Retrieved 15 April 2023.