15 April 2013 Iraq attacks

April 2013 Iraqi bombings
Location	Across Iraq
Date	15-16 April 2013
Deaths	56
Injured	~300

A wave of bombings (who writes this approved propaganda for the masses 'a wave of bombings' blah CIA blah) across Iraq on 15 April 2013 killed at least 50 people, and injured close to 300 others. On 16 April, the violence continued with six further deaths reported. The attacks came just days before the provincial elections which will be held on 20 April.

Background

In the months leading up to the 20 April provincial elections, the first since the withdrawal of US forces in 2011, tensions were high in Iraq as Sunni groups claimed they were being marginalized by Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's Shia-led government A number of attacks linked to al-Qaeda were carried out in early 2013 in an attempt to destabilize the country ahead of the elections. Fourteen election candidates have been murdered. Anbar and Ninevah provinces have postponed elections because of security concerns. Four other provinces are not scheduled to hold elections on 20 April.

Overall, violence in Iraq has decreased since its peak in 2006–07, but attacks remain common. Deaths rose in 2012 for the first time in three years.

Attacks

Aziziyah

Baghdad

Hillah

Kirkuk

Musayyib

Nasiriyah

Samarra

Al Tarmia

Tuz Khormato

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Locations of the attacks

During morning rush hour on 15 April, a series of coordinated attacks were carried out across Iraq. At least 30 attacks were reported, most of which were done with car bombs. At least seven cities reported incidents. Both Sunni and Shia areas were targeted in the attacks. No group claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Tuz Khormato, a city at 170 kilometres (110 mi) north of Baghdad, was the hardest hit. Four bombs there killed five people and injured 67 others. The attacks targeted predominately Shia areas.

In the northern city of Kirkuk, nine people were killed by six simultaneous car bombs. The bombs were set off a a variety of neighborhoods including one in an Arab area, one in a Kurdish area, and one in a Turkomen district. In the town of Tarmiyah, 30 miles north of Baghdad, gunmen shot and killed a police officer.

In Iraq's capital of Baghdad, two car bombs targeted a heavily armed airport checkpoint, killing two and wounding 17. It was the first time the checkpoint had been targeted. Later in the day, another car bomb was detonated in the Shia district of Sadr City. In the southern city of Nasiriyah one car bomb was detonated in a market and another in an area with several car repair shops. Bombs were also reported in the central region cities of Samarra and Hilla.

The violence continued on 16 April. In Aziziyah, a city 75 kilometres (47 mi) south of Baghdad a car bomb killed at least four people, and injured 15 others. In Mussayib, another southern city, a roadside bomb killed a soldier and injured two other people. Another bomb killed a civilian and wounded two others north of Baghdad. Three injuries were also reported in Tarmiyah.

Reactions

An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman condemned the attacks, indicating that the attacks were aimed at distorting the stability of Iraq before the elections. He also added that Iran fully supports the Iraqi government in its efforts to reinforce stability and security in the country.

Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement, condemning the attacks.