Throughout January 2012, a series of bombing and shooting attacks took place in multiple locations in

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

, seemingly targeting

Shia Muslims Shia Islam is the second-largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political Succession to Muhammad, successor (caliph) and as the spiritual le ...

5 January attacks

On 5 January 2012, a numerous bombing attacks hit the capital of

Baghdad Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...

and the southern city of

Nasiriyah Nasiriyah ( , ; , BGN: , ), also spelled Nassiriya or Nasiriya, is a city in Iraq, the capital of the Dhi Qar Governorate. It lies on the lower Euphrates, about south-southeast of Baghdad, near the ruins of the ancient city of Ur. Its po ...

, appearing to target

. A

suicide bomb A suicide attack (also known by a wide variety of other names, #Terminology , see below) is a deliberate Strike (attack) , attack in which the perpetrators suicide , knowingly sacrifice their own lives as part of the attack. These attacks are ...

er attacked a security checkpoint as huge crowds of pilgrims were making the journey from Nasiriyah to

Karbala Karbala is a major city in central Iraq. It is the capital of Karbala Governorate. With an estimated population of 691,100 people in 2024, Karbala is the second largest city in central Iraq, after Baghdad. The city is located about southwest ...

for a religious holiday. At least 44 people were killed and 81 more injured in the first significant attack in the city since a blast targeted the Italian military headquarters in November 2003. Meanwhile, in Baghdad, at least three bombs exploded in

Sadr City Sadr City (), formerly known as Al-Thawra () and Saddam City (), is a suburb district of the city of Baghdad, Iraq. It was built in 1959 by Prime Minister of Iraq, Prime Minister Abd al-Karim Qasim, Abdul Karim Qassim and named Al-Rafidain Distric ...

next to a group of day laborers waiting to get hired. Interior Ministry officials confirmed at least 13 died in these attacks and 32 were injured. Several hours later, two

car bombs A car bomb, bus bomb, van bomb, lorry bomb, or truck bomb, also known as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), is an improvised explosive device designed to be detonated in an automobile or other vehicles. Car bombs can be roug ...

in the

Kadhimiya Kadhimiya (, ) or Kadhimayn () is a northern neighbourhood of the city of Baghdad, Iraq. It is about from the city's center, on the west bank of the Tigris. 'Kadhimiya' is also the name of one of nine administrative districts in Baghdad. As th ...

district of Baghdad left 16 dead and 36 injured. In addition to these attacks, two people were killed and six injured in a shooting and roadside bombing in the insurgent stronghold of

Mosul Mosul ( ; , , ; ; ; ) is a major city in northern Iraq, serving as the capital of Nineveh Governorate. It is the second largest city in Iraq overall after the capital Baghdad. Situated on the banks of Tigris, the city encloses the ruins of the ...

. The

Islamic State of Iraq The Islamic State of Iraq (ISI; ') was a Salafi jihadist militant organization that fought the forces of the U.S.-led coalition during the Iraqi insurgency. The organization aimed to overthrow the Iraqi federal government and establish an ...

claimed responsibly for the attack a month afterwards on 6 February.

14 January attacks

On 14 January, a bomb exploded among crowds of Shia pilgrims at a

security checkpoint Civilian checkpoints or security checkpoints are distinguishable from border or frontier checkpoints in that they are erected and enforced within contiguous areas under military or paramilitary control. Civilian checkpoints have been employed w ...

in the city of

Basra Basra () is a port city in Iraq, southern Iraq. It is the capital of the eponymous Basra Governorate, as well as the List of largest cities of Iraq, third largest city in Iraq overall, behind Baghdad and Mosul. Located near the Iran–Iraq bor ...

, killing at least 53 and injuring more than 130 others. The pilgrims were passing through the checkpoint on their way to a major Shia mosque in the

Az Zubayr Az Zubayr () is a city in and the capital of Al-Zubayr District, part of the Basra Governorate of Iraq. The city is just south of Basra. The name is also sometimes written Al Zubayr, Al Zubair, Az Zubair, Zubair, Zoubair, El Zubair, or Zobier. ...

district, about 20km (12 miles) south-west of Basra. There were conflicting reports about the cause of the explosion, with some saying that a

suicide bomber A suicide attack (also known by a wide variety of other names, see below) is a deliberate attack in which the perpetrators knowingly sacrifice their own lives as part of the attack. These attacks are a form of murder–suicide that is ofte ...

dressed as a police officer managed to reach the checkpoint after showing a fake ID card. Other reports blamed a powerful roadside bomb that had been planted close to the road. The attack occurred on the last of the 40 days of Arba'in, where hundreds of thousands of Shia pilgrims visit the city of Karbala and other holy sites. Security forces sealed off the main hospital after the attack, fearing further violence. Following the attack, the Iraqi military "intensified" its security around the country. 30,000 Iraqi soldiers were deployed in Karbala to protect pilgrims. Officials believe at least 16 million pilgrims have passed through the city of Karbala in the past two weeks. Other attacks took place throughout Iraq that day. Roadside bombings in

Baqubah Baqubah (; BGN: Ba‘qūbah; also spelled Baquba and Baqouba) is the capital of Iraq's Diyala Governorate. The city is located some to the northeast of Baghdad, on the Diyala River. In 2003 it had an estimated population of some 280,000 people. ...

and

Al-Karmah Al-Karmah, also sometimes transliterated as Karma, Karmah, or Garma (Iraqi Arabic: الگرمة), is a city in central Iraq, 16 km (10 mi) northeast of Fallujah in the province of Al Anbar. U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq For mos ...

left one policeman dead and at least nine people injured. A car bombing targeting a police patrol in

Tikrit Tikrit ( ) is a city in Iraq, located northwest of Baghdad and southeast of Mosul on the Tigris River. It is the administrative center of the Saladin Governorate. In 2012, it had a population of approximately 160,000. Originally created as a f ...

killed a bystander and injured two officers. Ali Ghanim, the chief of the security committee in Basra, said the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber. He said, "There was a man who was holding a box and giving food to people, and one of our security officers found him suspicious and went to search the box and the man blew himself up". So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

27 January attack

At least 32 people were killed and 71 wounded in a bombing in Baghdad on 27 January. A suicide bomber targeting Shias detonated his vehicle at a funeral tent in Zaafaraniyah district in the south of Baghdad. The procession was being held for a local real estate broker who had been murdered by unidentified gunmen the previous day.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iraq attacks, 2012-01 Bombings in the Iraqi insurgency (2011–2013) 2012 murders in Iraq ISIL terrorist incidents in Iraq Terrorist incidents in Iraq in 2012 Mass murder in 2012 Islamic terrorist incidents in 2012 Spree shootings in Iraq Suicide car and truck bombings in Iraq January 2012 in Iraq January 2012 crimes in Asia 2012 in Baghdad Terrorist incidents in Baghdad in the 2010s 21st-century mass murder in Baghdad Suicide car and truck bombings in Baghdad History of Nasiriyah Terrorist incidents in Karbala 2010s in Karbala Terrorist incidents in Sadr City Improvised explosive device bombings in Mosul 21st century in Mosul 21st century in Basra Motorcycle bombings in Iraq Car and truck bombings in 2012 Suicide bombings in 2012 Terrorist incidents in Basra

5 January attacks

14 January attacks

27 January attack

See also

References