PRT NAJAF: DEADLY EXPLOSIONS ROCK KUFA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000383

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER IZ IR
SUBJECT: PRT NAJAF: DEADLY EXPLOSIONS ROCK KUFA

REF: BAGHDAD 0111

Classified By: Classified By: PRT Najaf Team Leader Angus Simmons for r
easons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) This is a Najaf Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT)
reporting cable.


2. (SBU) Summary: Three nearly simultaneous bombings
occurred in Najaf province February 12 as the roads were
crowded with pilgrims preparing to attend observances for the
end of the Arba'in holiday and commemoration of the Prophet
Mohammad,s death. Najaf had enjoyed nearly thirty days of
relative calm since the January 14 bombings that killed two
Iraqi civilians. END SUMMARY.


3. (SBU) On February 12, as Najaf's roads were crowded with
pilgrims preparing to attend observances for the anniversary
of the death of the Prophet, an Improvised Explosive Device
(IED) detonated near a security check point in Kufa on the
road to Hillah. A second IED detonated near a gas station
in located in Kufa City, and a third IED exploded at a market
near the Kufa Mosque. One media report suggested this was a
female suicide bomber at a nearby restaurant. (NOTE: A
fourth blast reported by local media in the early evening was
determined to be a defective electrical transformer and was,
in fact, not an IED. END NOTE). According to officials at Al
Sadr Hospital, the blasts killed four and wounded another
forty individuals.


4. (C) U.S. Forces stood by ready to assist with Explosive
Ordinance Demolition and Quick Response Forces teams, however
Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) did not request assistance.
(Note: Unmanned Aerial Surveillance (UAS) and Apache
helicopter support was provided. END NOTE.) PRT Team Leader
spoke with both Governor Zurfi (Da'wa) and the Provincial
Council Chair Sheikh Fayed al-Sharmari (SoL) to express
condolences.

Sadrist Trend blames U.S., Al-Qaeda and Ba'athists for
Bombings
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-


5. (SBU) The bombings occurred in the Sadrist Trend
stronghold of Kufa. Local internet media outlet Al Sadr
Online reported that First Deputy Governor Razaq Sharef
(Sadrist Trend) blamed "occupation (U.S.) forces, Al-Qaeda
(AQI),and Ba'athists for jointly executing the bombings."

6. (C) Comment: No organization has taken responsibility for
the bombings, however, it would be no surprise if provincial
officials continue to make assertions or accusations blaming
Ba'athists as occurred with the January 14 bombings which
left at least two dead and seventy-three wounded (reftel).
In the Shi'a heartland, fear and determination to keep
Ba'athists from returning to political life are the politics
of the day. Even Provincial Governor Zurfi participated in a
rally against Ba'athists, as he realized that this is good
politics for Shi'as of any political stripe. The prevailing
sentiment on the street appears to lay blame for these
attacks on the Ba,ath and Saddam sympathizers. End Comment.
FORD