2003 Nasiriyah bombing
Encyclopedia
The 2003 Nasiriyah bombing was a suicide attack
on the Italian
military police
headquarters
in Nasiriyah
, Iraq
, south of Baghdad
on November 12, 2003.
headquarters was the Nasiriyah Chamber of Commerce, a three-story structure near the Euphrates River. The first U.S. forces to occupy the building were Marines
from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit
, who were later relieved by reservists from the 2nd Battalion 25th Marines
.
On July 19, 2003 the Marines in Nasiriyah were replaced by members of the Carabinieri and Italian army.
first fired at the police checkpoint on the main road to the Italian headquarters. The police returned fire, but were unable to halt the attack,the policeman Andrea Filippi kills some insurgent slowing the truck. When the police scattered, the insurgent fighters removed the roadblock and a tanker truck rigged with explosives detonated next to the three-story building, tearing off its facade. The huge explosion also hit nearby houses. At least 28 people were killed, including 13 Italian carabinieri
, 4 Italian Army soldiers, two Italian civilians, and nine Iraqi civilians. More than 100 people were injured, including 19 Italian soldiers.
and the highest loss of Italian soldiers since World War II
. The attack thus shocked Italy
and plunged it into a three-day mourning period. The soldiers were given a state funeral
.
Iraq°N date=June 2009°W
Suicide attack
A suicide attack is a type of attack in which the attacker expects or intends to die in the process.- Historical :...
on the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
military police
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
in Nasiriyah
Nasiriyah
Nasiriyah is a city in Iraq. It is on the Euphrates about 225 miles southeast of Baghdad, near the ruins of the ancient city of Ur. It is the capital of the province of Dhi Qar...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, south of Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
on November 12, 2003.
Prelude
Before the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, the future CarabinieriCarabinieri
The Carabinieri is the national gendarmerie of Italy, policing both military and civilian populations, and is a branch of the armed forces.-Early history:...
headquarters was the Nasiriyah Chamber of Commerce, a three-story structure near the Euphrates River. The first U.S. forces to occupy the building were Marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit
15th Marine Expeditionary Unit
The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel...
, who were later relieved by reservists from the 2nd Battalion 25th Marines
2nd Battalion 25th Marines
2nd Battalion, 25th Marines is a reserve infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps headquartered in Garden City, New York, with units located throughout the Mid-Atlantic States. It consists of approximately 1000 Marines and sailors...
.
On July 19, 2003 the Marines in Nasiriyah were replaced by members of the Carabinieri and Italian army.
Attack
InsurgentsIraqi insurgency
The Iraqi Resistance is composed of a diverse mix of militias, foreign fighters, all-Iraqi units or mixtures opposing the United States-led multinational force in Iraq and the post-2003 Iraqi government...
first fired at the police checkpoint on the main road to the Italian headquarters. The police returned fire, but were unable to halt the attack,the policeman Andrea Filippi kills some insurgent slowing the truck. When the police scattered, the insurgent fighters removed the roadblock and a tanker truck rigged with explosives detonated next to the three-story building, tearing off its facade. The huge explosion also hit nearby houses. At least 28 people were killed, including 13 Italian carabinieri
Carabinieri
The Carabinieri is the national gendarmerie of Italy, policing both military and civilian populations, and is a branch of the armed forces.-Early history:...
, 4 Italian Army soldiers, two Italian civilians, and nine Iraqi civilians. More than 100 people were injured, including 19 Italian soldiers.
Aftermath
The attack was the worst incident involving Italian soldiers since Operation Restore Hope in SomaliaSomalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
and the highest loss of Italian soldiers since World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The attack thus shocked Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and plunged it into a three-day mourning period. The soldiers were given a state funeral
State funeral
A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honor heads of state or other important people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements of military tradition...
.
External links
See also
- Operation Ancient BabylonOperation Ancient BabylonOperation Ancient Babylon was the code name given to the deployment of Italian forces during the Iraq War. Their mission lasted from July 15th 2003 to December 1st 2006...
Iraq°N date=June 2009°W