UNAMI condemns Baghdad attack, says IS remains “a potent force”

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq condemned the ‘terrorist’ attack which hit Baghdad on Monday and called on Iraqis to remain vigilant.

The suicide attack targeted the Nahrawan area southeast of Baghdad, killing 17 people and injuring 28 more, according to local police. The Islamic State (IS) eventually claimed responsibility for the attack in an online statement.

In response, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, Ján Kubiš, strongly condemned the “cowardly” terrorist attack and expressed his condolences to the family of victims and wishing a speedy recovery for those injured.

“Despite defeats at the hands of the Iraqi security forces, the Daesh terrorist group remains a potent force, and Iraqis need to remain vigilant in the coming period,” Kubiš stated, using the pejorative Arabic acronym for the Islamic State.

“The terrorists’ cowardly acts to stoke fear among Iraqis who are about to relish the imminent total victory over terrorism will not succeed. With their unity, strength, and determination, Iraqis will deliver the knockout blow to the terrorists soon,” he added.

The jihadist group emerged in mid-2014 in northern Iraq. It quickly expanded and took over large swaths of territory across the provinces of Nineveh, Diyala, Salahaddin, Anbar, and Kirkuk. Since then, IS has lost almost all the land it once controlled as Iraqi forces continue to push the group into smaller, more remote desertic areas in the northwest of the country.

Editing by Nadia Riva