2003 Karbala bombings

Four suicide attacks in Iraq

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2003 Karbala bombings

Part of Iraqi insurgency (2003–2006) in Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)
Location| Karbala, Iraq
Date| December 27, 2003
Target| Coalition military barracks

Attack type

| Suicide Bombings
Deaths| 14 soldiers, 5 civilians
Injured| 200+ injured (including 36 coalition soldiers)
Perpetrators| Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad
Motive| Occupation of Iraq

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List of bombings during the Iraq War

‡ indicates attacks resulting in over 100 deaths
§ indicates the deadliest attack in the Iraq War
This list only includes major attacks.

2003
1st Baghdad
2nd Baghdad
Najaf
3rd Baghdad
1st Nasiriyah
1st Karbala

2004
‡ 1st Erbil
‡ Ashoura
1st Basra
1st Mosul
4th Baghdad
5th Baghdad
Karbala & Najaf
1st Baqubah
Kufa
Marez

2005
Suwaira bombing
‡ 1st Al Hillah
2nd Erbil
‡ Musayyib
6th Baghdad
‡ 7th Baghdad
1st Balad
Khanaqin

2006
‡ Karbala-Ramadi
1st Samarra
8th Baghdad
9th Baghdad
‡ 10th Baghdad

2007
11th Baghdad
12th Baghdad
‡ 13th Baghdad
14th Baghdad
15th Baghdad
‡ 2nd Al Hillah
‡ 1st Tal Afar
16th Baghdad
17th Baghdad
2nd & 3rd Karbala
2nd Mosul
‡ 18th Baghdad
Makhmour
Abu Sayda
2nd Samarra
19th Baghdad
‡ Amirli
1st Kirkuk
20th Baghdad
21st Baghdad
§ Qahtaniya
Amarah

2008
22nd Baghdad
2nd Balad
23rd Baghdad
4th Karbala
24th Baghdad
Karmah
2nd Baqubah
Dujail
Balad Ruz

2009
25th Baghdad
26th Baghdad
Baghdad-Muqdadiyah
Taza
27th Baghdad
2nd Kirkuk
2nd Tal Afar
‡ 28th Baghdad
‡ 29th Baghdad
‡ 30th Baghdad

2010
31st Baghdad
32nd Baghdad
3rd Baqubah
33rd Baghdad
34th Baghdad
35th Baghdad
‡ 1st Pan-Iraq
36th Baghdad
37th Baghdad
2nd Pan-Iraq
38th Baghdad
39th Baghdad
‡ 40th Baghdad

2011
41st Baghdad
‡ 3rd Pan-Iraq
Karbala-Baghdad
42nd Baghdad
Tikrit
3rd Al Hillah
3rd Samarra
Al Diwaniyah
Taji
4th Pan-Iraq
43rd Baghdad
4th Karbala
44th Baghdad
2nd Basra
45th Baghdad

The 2003 Karbala bombings consisted of four suicide attacks on the Coalition military barracks in Karbala, Iraq, 110 kilometres (68 mi) south of Baghdad on December 27, 2003.

The attackers targeted two coalition bases and a downtown Iraqi police station where U.S. military police were stationed. All of the attacks occurred within a 20-minute span.

## The attacks

[edit]

Bulgarian guards at the perimeter of their forward base at the University of Karbala shot the suicide bomber as the gasoline tanker bore down on the front entrance. Nevertheless, the bomb exploded about 50 feet (15 m) from the base's main building, killing four Bulgarian soldiers and wounding 27 others, one of whom died from his injuries on the next day.[1] The soldiers killed were Major Georgi Kachorin, Lieutenant Nikolai Saruev and Officer Candidates Ivan Indjov, Anton Petrov and Svilen Kirov.[2] The Bulgarian Army chief of staff, Nikola Kolev, said they expected attacks because Karbala had been suspiciously peaceful.[attribution needed]

In the attack on the Thai Humanitarian Assistance Task Force 976 Thai-Iraq camp the bomber killed two Thai soldiers and wounded five others when he rammed his vehicle into the walls. The Thais were confident enough about their security that they planned to send 200 Thai civilians to visit their troops.

In the double attack on the police station, seven Iraqi police officers and five civilians were killed. Five American soldiers were among the wounded.[3]

### Reaction

[edit]

After the bombings, UN Security Council President Stefan Tafrov condemned the attacks.[4] In Bulgaria, questions were raised by the country's participation in Iraq and the salaries soldiers received for their international service in a warzone.[5] Bulgaria would continue to support their allies efforts in Iraq until 2008, at a loss of 13 soldiers.[6]

## See also

[edit]

* 2004 Karbala and Najaf bombings
* 5 January 2006 Iraq bombings
* 2007 Karbala bombings
* 2008 Karbala bombing
* 24 January 2011 Iraq bombings
* 2011 Karbala bombing

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Incident Summary for GTDID: 200312270002". www.start.umd.edu. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
2. ^ "Commemorations of 20th Anniversary of Kerbala Bombings Held". www.bta.bg. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
3. ^ "Troops killed in Karbala blasts". 2003-12-27. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
4. ^ "PRESS STATEMENT ON KARBALA BOMBING BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". press.un.org. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
5. ^ Geshakova, Julia (2008-04-08). "Iraq: Bulgarians Ask Uneasy Questions Following Deadly Karbala Attack". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
6. ^ "Bulgaria pays tribute to five Bulgarian military killed in Karbala bombings 18 years ago". bnr.bg. Retrieved 2024-11-10.

## External links

[edit]

* Bulgarian soldiers refuse duty in Iraq after deadly attack
* Karbala attacks kill 12, wound dozens
* Police station and 2 bases hit in southern city
* 13 killed, 172 wounded in coordinated attacks in Iraq

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