| January 2021 Baghdad bombings | |
|---|---|
| Part of theISIL insurgency in Iraq | |
 Baghdad bombings aftermath, the Market | |
  Baghdad The attack occurred in Baghdad, Iraq. | |
| Location | Baghdad,Baghdad Governorate,Iraq |
| Date | 21 January 2021 (2021-01-21) |
| Target | Shia Muslims |
Attack type | Suicide bombing |
| Weapons | Explosive belt |
| Deaths | 34 (including two attackers) |
| Injured | 110 |
| Perpetrator |  Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant |
| Motive | Anti-Shi'ism |
TheJanuary2021 Baghdad bombings were a pair ofterrorist attacks that occurred on 21 January 2021, carried out by twosuicide bombers at anopen-air market in centralBaghdad,Iraq.[1] They killed at least 32 people and injured another 110. This was the Iraqi capital’s first terrorist attack since 2019.[2]
Since late 2017, the period in which theIslamic Statewas defeated, terrorist attacks in Iraq became rare. From 2003 to 2017, attacks were common in the entire country, with Baghdad and nearby cities being the main targets. The last major deadly attack against civilians, during the post-war period,occurred in January 2018 at the same location, leaving at least 35 people dead.[3]
In the early hours of the morning, a clothing market in Tayaran Square, central Baghdad, was crowded as people were shopping after the market recently reopened, after being closed for about a year due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in Iraq. An attacker entered and yelled “My stomach is hurting!" in Arabic. As nearby people got close to him, he pressed a detonator in his hand and blew himself up, killing several people.[4] A second suicide bomber then struck and killed 32 civilians and wounded more than 110 others. Several of these civilians were in critical condition.[5]
Amaq News Agency creditedIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant bombers.[6] The claim, which was released hours after the attack, stated that the organization targetedShia Muslims. This was later backed up by an official statement from ISIL claiming responsibility for both attacks.[7][8]
TheKata'ib Hezbollah militia accused the United States,Israel andSaudi Arabia of being responsible for the attack, vowing to transfer the "battle" into Saudi Arabia.[9]
On 22 January 2021, missile anddrone strikes targeted Saudi capitalRiyadh. Iraqi militia “The True Promise Brigades” claimed responsibility and said the attacks were done as revenge for the bombings done byISIL, which they accuse Riyadh of supporting.[10] Saudi government held the YemeniHouthi movement responsible but the Houthis denied launching the strike.[11] On 28 January,Abu Yasser al-Issawi, a senior ISIS commander, was killed byIraqi Armed Forces in Al-Chai Valley, southernKirkuk.[12]
Bahrain,[13]Canada,[14]Egypt,[14]France,[15]Iran,[14]Kuwait,[13]Jordan,[14]Lebanon,[14]Malaysia,[16]Tunisia,[14]Turkey,[17]Saudi Arabia,[13] theUnited Arab Emirates,[13]Qatar,[14] theUnited States,[14]Yemen,[14]Palestine[14] condemned the attacks.
TheGulf Cooperation Council condemned the attack with the Secretary-General Nayef Al-Hajraf “offering condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery.”[13]
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