Al-Qaida's "Islamic State of Iraq" (ISI) Claims Deadly Baghdad Suicide Bombings
By Evan Kohlmann
The NEFA Foundation has obtained and translated a new communique from Al-Qaida's "Islamic State of Iraq" (ISI) claiming responsibility for the coordinated August 19 suicide bombing attacks on Iraqi government ministries in the capital Baghdad. According to the statement, "disciples of the Islamic State have launched a new blessed battle in the heart of stricken Baghdad, to attack the infidel dens and deviant fortresses of the apostate government... The ground shook beneath their feet and their hearts were torn apart with terror and fear. Their weakness and the fragility of the nation--and how it is divided--has been revealed." The statement also addressed the issue of civilian casualties: "if we have accidentally killed or harmed those of Sunni Muslim blood who were located in these places, then we send our wishes to those wounded persons for a speedy recovery, and for those who were killed, [we wish them] to be raised as martyrs. We beseech them [Sunni Muslims] to Allah to avoid passing by or being in these places as much as possible. We will not stop our jihad against the mushrikeen and defending against the infidels for the sake of those fallen martyrs."
An English translation of the Al-Qaida communique can be downloaded from the NEFA Foundation website.
