On Monday, November 30th, two bomb attacks targeted the Shiite Muslim annual pilgrimage, Arbaeen, in Baghdad. The first attack consisted of two roadside bombings that injured 17 civilians and killed 6 in the Shaab neighborhood. The second attack occurred along the pilgrimage route in the Saiydiyah district, where a suicide bomber injured 21 people and killed 9, among which were 4 soldiers. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The religious commemoration known as Arbaeen, when faithful Shiite converge at the holy city of Karbala to remember the death of Imam Hussein, a central religious figure in Shiite Islam. For 40 days, tens of millions of Shiite followers travel to the city of Karbala in Iraq for the annual celebration. The annual pilgrimage has been consistently struck by violence, especially within the past few years. Islamic State groups repeatedly target the heavily populated event.

As a result, the Iraqi government has placed armed forces along the pilgrimage route to protect the Shiite followers from potential terrorist attacks. The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) has provided additional resources to support the Iraqi Government in ensuring protection of civilians, and conserving national unity among the people of Iraq.

To read more, visit:

http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/news/id_11463/Shia-pilgrims-killed-in-Baghdad-bombings.html
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=52707#.VnDPaRqDGkp
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2015/11/30/suicide-bombing-against-shiite-pilgrims-baghdad-kills-9/76565888/
http://www.timesunion.com/news/world/article/Iraqi-military-tells-civilians-of-IS-held-city-to-6664306.php
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/arbaeen-worlds-largest-annual-pilgrimage-millions-shia-muslims-gather-karbala-1531726