U.S. Condemns Terrorist Attacks in Iraq and Pledges to Help Combat al Qaeda
Press Statement
Jen Psaki
Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
August 10, 2013
The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the cowardly attacks today in Baghdad. These attacks were
aimed at families celebrating the Eid al-Fitr holiday that marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The
terrorists who committed these acts are enemies of Islam and a shared enemy of the United States, Iraq, and the
international community.
The attacks today bear the hallmarks of similar suicide and vehicle bomb attacks in Iraq over the past ninety days. Most
of these attacks have been perpetrated by al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). AQI is led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, a Specially
Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224. He is also listed at the United Nations Security Council
1267/1989 al-Qa'ida Sanctions Committee.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, also known as Abu D'ua, is now based in Syria and has changed the name of AQI to the Islamic State
of Iraq and Sham (ISIS). He has taken personal credit for a series of terrorist attacks in Iraq since 2011, and most
recently claimed credit for the operations against the Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad, the suicide bombing assault on
the Ministry of Justice, among other attacks against Iraqi Security Forces and Iraqi citizens going about their daily
lives.
The United States has offered a $10 million reward for information that helps authorities kill or capture Abu Bakr
al-Baghdadi. This reward is second only to information leading to Ayman al-Zawahiri, the chief of Al Qaeda’s network,
and symbolizes our ongoing commitment to helping our partners in the region eliminate this threat from their territory.
In this regard, the United States is prepared to work closely with the Iraqi Government to confront the threat posed by
Al Qaeda in Iraq and other terrorist groups. We look forward to discussing bilateral cooperation in this and other
areas, pursuant to the Strategic Framework Agreement between our two countries, during the upcoming visit of Iraqi
Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari next week in Washington.
Our deepest condolences go out to the victims of today's attacks and we hope for the quick recovery of those injured.
The United States will stand with the Iraqi people as they work to overcome these horrific attacks perpetrated by a
common enemy
ENDS