Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Shiite pilgrims attacked
Security
(AP) Shiite pilgrims came under attack again Tuesday, police said, with at least eight killed as they streamed south from Baghdad on foot toward a shrine ahead of a Muslim holiday this weekend. Worshippers were heading to Karbala, 50 miles south of the Iraqi capital, before Al Arbayeen - the holiday that marks the end of a 40-day mourning period after the death of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson. There were at least three shootings and three bomb attacks against groups of pilgrims making the journey Tuesday.
COMMENT: Due to the upcoming religious Shiite holiday of Al Arbayeen, there is likely to be increased traffic heading to Karbala. Further attacks can be expected. If large scale casualty attacks are employed using suicide bomber tactics (typically by Sunni insurgents), there are likely to be reprisals with the possibility of larger players such as the Mahdi Army stepping up attacks on Sunnis. This will be the reaction Sunni insurgents are trying to provoke. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: Al Arbayeen, Karbala, Shiite pilgrims
