23 February 2012 Iraq attacks

Series of bombings throughout Iraqi cities during the insurgency

23 February 2012 Iraq attacks
Part of Iraqi insurgency (post U.S. withdrawal)
Location	Baghdad and at least 14 other cities, Iraq
Date	23 February 2012 (UTC+3)
Attack type	Suicide bombings, car bombs, IEDs, shootings, school bombing
Deaths	83^[1]
Injured	250+^[1]

Iraqi insurgency
(2011–2013)

Timeline

2011
2012
2013

1st Baghdad
2nd Baghdad & Nasiriyah
Basra
3rd Baghdad
1st Pan-Iraq
2nd Pan-Iraq
4th Baghdad & Hilla
‡ 3rd Pan-Iraq
‡ 4th Pan-Iraq
‡ 5th Pan-Iraq
‡ 6th Pan-Iraq
7th Pan-Iraq
Tuz Khormato
1st Kirkuk
Akashat
8th Pan-Iraq
Tikrit
9th Pan-Iraq
5th Baghdad
‡ Hawija
‡ 10th Pan-Iraq
al-Shabah
6th Baghdad
11th Pan-Iraq
12th Pan-Iraq
‡ 13th Pan-Iraq
7th Baghdad
14th Pan-Iraq
‡ 15th Pan-Iraq
Camp Ashraf
8th Baghdad
‡ 16th Pan-Iraq
Samarra
‡ 9th Baghdad
2nd Kirkuk
10th Baghdad
11th Baghdad

‡ indicates incidents resulting in over 100 deaths

The 23 February 2012 Iraq attacks were the fifth simultaneous wave of bombings to hit Iraq during the insurgency and the first such major assault since the US withdrawal at the end of 2011. At least 83 people were killed and more than 250 wounded in highly coordinated attacks spread out in least 15 cities - including at least 10 explosions in the capital Baghdad that left 32 people dead. A number of shootings also took place, mostly aimed at police patrols and security installations around the city. The majority of the blasts appeared to specifically target Shiite areas.^[1]

Outside Baghdad attacks were spread out, including at least three car bombs around Tikrit that killed 12 and injured more than 50. Unidentified gunmen broke into a governing council building in Salman Baik east of Tikrit, shooting dead the leader of the administration and two policemen. Car bombs exploded near a school and two police stations in Hilla, killing at least 3 and leaving scores injured. Similar attacks took place in Baqubah, Kirkuk, Taji, Dujail and Mosul.^[2]

Perpetrators

The umbrella group Islamic State of Iraq claimed responsibility for the bombings two days later and promised further bloodshed as it targets Shiites across Iraq. The country was set to host the postponed Arab League Summit on March 29 in the midst of a surge of violence and a rise in civilian and security casualties since the withdrawal of US forces.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Raheem, Kareem (2012-02-23). "Iraq attacks kill 60, raise sectarian fears". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2017-02-08. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
^ "Dozens dead in wave of Iraq attacks". Al Jazeera. 2012-02-23. Archived from the original on 2012-02-23. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
^ "Iraq says Arab summit to be held on schedule". Trust.org. 2012-02-26. Archived from the original on 2012-02-27. Retrieved 2012-02-26.