SAFETY OF IRAQIS MUST BE GOVERNMENT'S PRIORITY: It’s a sad day for Iraq. The sleeper cells of Daesh terror group have reared their ugly head again and more than 30 lives, including women and children, were lost on the eve of Eid celebrations. The suicide blast in Baghdad suburb’s bustling market comes 6 months after a similar attack that killed 32 people — also at a crowded market in the capital. Huge bomb attacks were once an almost daily occurrence in the Iraqi capital but have dwindled since a Daesh invasion of northern and western Iraq was defeated in 2017. The US-led coalition that had been supporting Iraq’s campaign against Daesh has significantly drawn down its troop levels over the past year, citing the increased capabilities of Iraqi forces. The remnants of Daesh terror networks that have melted into urban areas or deserts and rugged areas, must be completely destroyed and the government must ensure safety for all. [COMMMENT BY: Stephen N.R., Senior Associate Editor]
AFP