In a harrowing incident that underscores the persistent threat of terrorism in Iraq, 11 people lost their lives in the eastern part of the country. This tragic event occurred when two explosive devices detonated on a minibus, followed by sniper fire, as confirmed by security sources on Friday. The attack, believed to be orchestrated by terrorists, targeted civilians returning from an election rally in Diyala province.
A Brutal Attack Amidst Political Engagement
The attack took place on Thursday night in the province of Diyala, targeting a minibus carrying civilians. They were returning from an electoral gathering supporting a candidate from their tribe, as reported by an official from the Ministry of Interior who chose to remain anonymous. Governor Muthanna al-Tamimi of Diyala, in the aftermath of the attack, condemned the “cowardly operation carried out by ISIS terrorist gangs.” He urged security forces to be more vigilant against the sleeper cells of the ISIS terrorist organization.
The Aftermath and ISIS’s Lingering Presence
A second security source from Baghdad reported that “11 were killed and 17 injured in an attack involving an explosive device followed by an armed assault” targeting people who gathered after the first explosion in the village of Al-Imrania in the Muqdadiyah area. The Interior Ministry official reported that a minibus was targeted by two explosive devices following an election rally, succeeded by sniper fire from an unknown source, leading to a total of 12 fatalities and 13 injuries.
Iraq’s Ongoing Battle Against Extremism
This attack, not immediately claimed by ISIS, occurred in a province where the organization still maintains cells. It comes ahead of the provincial council elections scheduled for December 18. After seizing large territories in Syria and Iraq in 2014, the extremist group faced successive defeats in both countries, leading to the loss of all controlled areas by 2019. Iraq declared victory over the group in late 2017, yet remnants continue to exist in remote northern regions, sporadically launching attacks against military and security forces.
United Nations Report on Terrorism in Iraq
A United Nations report published in July highlighted that counter-terrorism operations by Iraqi forces have continued to limit ISIS activities. However, the group has maintained a low-level insurgency. According to the report, terrorist operations have been largely confined to rural areas, with attacks in urban centers being less frequent. The report estimates that the core structure of ISIS still leads 5,000 to 7,000 individuals across Iraq and Syria, most of them fighters.