A subsidiary of al-Qaida has claimed responsibility on Monday for Saturday’s bombing wave that killed more than 60 people and injured more than 200 in Iraq, according to the SITE group which monitors online terrorist messages.
A statement by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) posted online said it carried out the attacks.
“The Islamic State mobilized… in Baghdad and the southern states and others to convey a quick message of deterrence on the third day of Eid (Muslim holiday)” as a response to the Iraqi government’s recent crackdowns on terrorists.
“They will pay a high price for what they did, and they will not be secure day or night during Eid or other times, so they should watch their footsteps…” it said.
On Saturday, a total of 12 car bombs went off in Baghdad, in markets, restaurants and cafes, killing more than 30 people and injuring at least 100, as Iraqis were celebrating the end of the Muslim month of Ramadan.
Some 16 car bombings and other attacks rocked Iraq on that day, making this one of the deadliest Ramadan months in recent years.
Saturday’s attacks also followed major crackdowns on terrorists and terrorists in Iraq, among the biggest security operations since the pullout of U.S. troops in December 2011.
It appears the U.S. is ignoring the “Pottery Barn rule,” we broke it and put it back on the shelf…