ISIS claimed responsibility for the two suicide bombings that struck Thursday morning a crowded popular market in central Baghdad, in an attack that caused the largest number of victims in the Iraqi capital three years ago, while Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi dismissed security and military leaders in connection with the two explosions, and promised that the response would be to The double attack was cruel and earth-shattering, at a time when Iraqis shared on social media the painful stories of the victims of the two bombings.

In a statement posted on the Telegram app, ISIS said that two of its men blew themselves up in Tayaran Square in the center of the Iraqi capital.

The health authorities stated that the double attack left 32 dead and 110 wounded, and Health Minister Hassan Al-Tamimi said that most of the wounded had left hospitals.

Hundreds of Iraqis mourned a number of deaths in the double bombing, while the Director General of Civil Defense in Iraq, Kazem Salman, said that the death toll was still continuing.

An Interior Ministry statement stated that the first suicide bomber blew himself up in the "clothes" market (in which used clothes are sold) "after he claimed that he was sick and people gathered around him," adding that the second suicide bomber blew himself up "after people gathered to transport the victims who were injured in the first bombing." .

The sound of the two explosions was heard all over the capital, and soldiers deployed in the square heavily, blocking the roads leading to the place, and a number of them were helping ambulance teams to get the injured.

The Al-Jazeera correspondent in Baghdad said that the security forces have strengthened their deployment in the vicinity of the Green Zone - which includes the headquarters of the government, parliament and embassies of a number of countries - in anticipation of any emergency.

Painful stories

Social media pioneers in Iraq shared harsh scenes from the two bombings, and pictures and videos showed a father screaming at a car carrying two coffins, "How do I leave my son ?!", and other painful scenes and stories left by the double bombing in Baghdad after it killed and injured dozens of Iraqis.

The Cairo neighborhood of the two martyrs, the two young brothers, Omar Luai / Ali Luay, following the Al-Analhi Gate explosion, I am God and to Him we return to Al-Fatiha

Posted by Hussein Shuai on Thursday, January 21, 2021

The Iraqis shared some stories of the victims, such as the two brothers "Omar and Ali" Al-Nuaimi, who died while they were at the scene of the explosion of one of the suicide bombers himself, which shocked their family and the people of the Cairo neighborhood, east of Baghdad, as the area grieved them and turned off their lights.

Suicide bombings were once a common thing in Baghdad, but they have become rare since the Iraqi forces defeated the organization in 2017, so that the security situation has returned to calm in the capital and most areas of the country, with the continuation of some sporadic attacks in areas far from the cities.

Al-Kazemi's decisions

The Prime Minister's Office said - in a brief statement - that Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi held an emergency meeting with senior security leaders to discuss the two attacks, and an army spokesman said - in a statement - that after the meeting Al-Kazemi dismissed senior military and security leaders, including the Undersecretary of the Interior Ministry for Intelligence Affairs, Lieutenant General Staff. Amer Saddam, Director General of Intelligence and Combating Terrorism at the Ministry of Interior, Abdul Karim Abdul Fadel, and Commander of the Federal Police Forces, Lieutenant General Jaafar Al-Battat.

The Iraqi Prime Minister said in a tweet on Twitter that the response to the double attack in Baghdad would be cruel and earth-shattering.

Al-Kazemi issues orders for major changes in the security services

First: Dismissing the Deputy Minister of Interior for Intelligence Affairs, Lieutenant General Amer Saddam, from his post, and assigning Lieutenant General Ahmed Abu Ragheef to the Ministry of Interior for Intelligence Affairs.

Yahya Rasul |

Yehia Rasool (@IraqiSpoxMOD) January 21, 2021

Iraqi President Barham Salih commented on the explosions in a tweet on Twitter, saying, "The two terrorist explosions are against the safe citizens of Baghdad, and at this time, they confirm the endeavors of dark groups to target the great national needs and the aspirations of our people for a peaceful future."

The Office of the Supreme Shiite Religious Authority in Iraq, Ali al-Sistani, condemned the double bombing, calling on the security services to make more efforts to maintain security.

The State of Law Coalition - led by former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki - said that the Baghdad bombings require the government to raise the state of security alert in the country.

The head of the Popular Mobilization Authority, Faleh al-Fayyad, said that his forces would not allow terrorism to occupy Iraqi cities again, according to a statement.

The Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq stated that the timing of the bombing coincided with the new US administration taking over its work, confirming that the axis of evil is still working to bring the Iraqi people to their knees, who insist on removing American forces from the country, according to the statement.

Brother Ahmed Radi Al-Waeli, who was martyred today in the Bab Al-Sharqi explosion in Tayaran Square, may God have mercy on him, and I will live in his spaciousness

Posted by Abathar Alsade on Thursday, January 21, 2021

Minister of Foreign Affairs

On the other hand, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said - in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera - that the continuing regional tension affects the internal Iraqi security situation, and that Iraq alone cannot face the tensions and needs external support.

Hussein said that the unilateral security situation for any country in the region is not a solution, and that these countries need a joint security situation, adding that achieving this matter requires the existence of a relationship between all countries, and that any problems can be solved through dialogue.

Many condemnations were issued - in the strongest terms - from the countries of the region, the world and international organizations for the double attack in Baghdad, and expressions of solidarity with Iraq.