Suicide Bombing Kills 60 in Arbil

Reuters reported that a suicide bombing in the Kurdish city of Arbil in northern Iraq, where the Korean Zaytun unit is stationed, killed at least 60 people and wounded 150 others on May 4.

Regional police and witnesses said that an Iraqi man blew himself up in the office of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) after entering with explosives.

The number of casualties is expected to grow as rescue and recovery efforts continue.

The headquarters of the KDP is in the city of Arbil, but the base of the Zaytun unit is near the Arbil airport, eight kilometers west of the city.

The terrorist attack seems to be part of a campaign to impose a heavy burden on the new Iraqi government as the bombing occurred in the more stable Kurdish area instead of other areas. Kurdish power has been rising, and it is the second-largest political party in Iraq after the general election held at the end of January.

In addition, simultaneous bombing attacks hit the offices of the KDP and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), killing 109 people on February 1 last year.

Meanwhile, regarding the suicide terrorist attack in the northern city of Arbil on May 4, the Joint Chiefs of Staff ordered the Zaytun unit to be put on full alert.

An official of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said that it strengthened the unit’s defensive positions after the explosion, which was presumed to be a suicide bombing attack and happened at a local gathering place for regional police on a road in front of the media center in southern Arbil, which is eight kilometers from the Zaytun unit. The attack took place at around 9:30 a.m. (local time) on May 4.

Jae-Young Kim Sang-Ho Yun redfoot@donga.com ysh1005@donga.com