IS attacks in Iraq

This item appears on page 15 of the September 2015 issue.

In eastern Iraq’s Diyala Province, a car bomb targeting a market in the town of Khan Bani Saad, north of Baghdad, killed at least 120 people and injured at least 130 more on July 17. The market was packed with people preparing for Eid al-Fitr holiday festivities, which were subsequently canceled for three days of mourning. It was the single deadliest event in Iraq in 10 years. 

The self-declared Islamic State (IS), a militant group, claimed responsibility for the attack. IS controls large swathes of land in Syria and Iraq but not in Diyala Province. 

On July 21, a car bomb struck a busy clothing store in Baghdad, killing at least 14 people and wounding at least 30. As of press time, no group had claimed responsibility.