Suicide attack kills 7 north of Baghdad, UN says ISIS seeks revenge

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Suicide bombers have killed seven and wounded another 12 when they attacked a power plant in Samarra, north of the capital Baghdad on Saturday, officials say.

An Iraqi security official said that there were three attackers, while a statement from the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity said there were four.

The attackers, armed with grenades also died during clashes with the security forces.

The attack happened at 2:00 a.m. local time.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but ISIS has carried out similar attacks in the past.

Most Iraqi Shiite Muslims marked the first day of Eid al-Adha on Saturday, a day after the country’s Sunni Muslims.

This comes as the United Nations stated on Friday that ISIS is targeting innocent civilians to avenge for their loss of Tal Afar.

“Da'esh terrorists have shown absolute disregard for human life,” Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General Ján Kubiš, also head of the UN Mission for Iraq said in statement on Friday using another term ISIS.

”Shamelessly, the terrorists have indiscriminately targeted civilians, most recently in Baghdad earlier this week, to avenge their losses on the battlefield as they lost control of Tal Afar,” he continued.

Last Monday, a car bomb went off near the busy Jamila wholesale market in Baghdad’s Shiite district of Sadr City killing 12 people and wounding at least 28 others.

A total of 125 civilians were killed and another 188 injured throughout Iraq in acts of violence, terrorism and armed conflict during the month of August per a press release published by UNAMI on Friday.

Not including police, of those figures 116 civilians were killed while 181 were injured.

Baghdad was the worst affected governorate with 45 deaths and 135 injuries followed by Ninewa Governorate where Mosul and Tal Afar are located with 36 killed and 18 injured.

The remaining casualty figures reported by the UN came from other areas of Iraq which were not named in the press release. Additionally, the numbers do not include figures from the Anbar province, where fighting still continues.

The overall casualty figures were lower in August than in previous months; however UNAMI stated has been "hindered in effectively verifying casualties" in conflict areas along from those who have died from "secondary violence."

"For these reasons, the figures reported have to be considered as the absolute minimum," UNAMI explained.

Kubiš said in a separate statement that “hopeful days lie ahead for Iraq,” mentioning military victories in the region, including Tal Afar which Iraqi forces declared liberated from ISIS on Thursday.

The senior UN official also released a statement to Muslims celebrating the Eid al-Adha holiday in Iraq.

“On this Eid, the Feast of Sacrifice that Muslims celebrate worldwide, the Iraqi people who have sacrificed dearly deserve to live in peace, dignity and prosperity,” Kubiš stated.

“Sustainable peace can only be secured through inclusive solutions, addressing the grievances, needs and aspirations of the Iraqi people,” he added.

Suicide attack kills 7 north of Baghdad, UN says ISIS seeks revenge

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