2003 Nasiriyah bombing

Suicide attack on Italian forces in Iraq February 2013 hist April 2009 Nasiriyah Carabinieri Bombing 2003–2006 phase of the Iraqi insurgency in Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011) Iraq 300 31.047736 46.240764 Italian Police HQ Bombing Aftermath of the attack Nasiriyah, Iraq Multinational Specialized Unit headquarters November 12, 2003 Suicide bombing, shootout 18 Italian soldiershttp://icasualties.org/oif/prdDetails.aspx?hndRef=11-2003 Period Details 2007-04-20 2007-04-10 https://web.archive.org/web/20070410231047/http://icasualties.org/oif/prdDetails.aspx?hndRef=11-2003 dead 1 Italian civilian9 Iraqi civilians 103 (including 20 Italian soldiers) Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-JihadRichard York Know Thy Enemy: Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant https://books.google.com/books?id=ZtkNCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA3 20 June 2015 Lulu.com 978-1-329-23188-7 3– Operation Ancient Babylon thumb|240px|Nasiriyah bombing memorial in Bologna, Italy The 2003 Nasiriyah bombing was a suicide attack on the Italian Carabinieri Multinational Specialized Unit (MSU) headquarters in Nasiriyah, Iraq, south of Baghdad on 12 November 2003. The attack resulted in the deaths of 18 Italian servicemembers, mostly members of the MSU, an Italian civilian, and 9 Iraqi civilians and was the worst Italian military disaster since World War II. The attack, labeled a "terrorist act" by Italian president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, was among a string of many attacks on non-American military international targets in Iraq that occurred shortly after the end of major combat operations, including the Jordanian and Turkish embassies, ICRC, and UN facilities.Bunker Robert Sullivan John Suicide Bombings in Operation Iraqi Freedom CGU Faculty Publications and Research 1 January 2004 https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgu_fac_pub/488/ 20 October 2021 20 October 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211020212722/https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgu_fac_pub/488/ live Prelude Before the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the future Carabinieri and Portuguese Guarda Nacional Republicana 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. Italy took part in the Iraq War, as part of the Multi-National Force – Iraq, from 15 July 2003 until 1 December 2006, in and around Nasiriyah (see Operation Ancient Babylon). On July 19, 2003 the Marines in Nasiriyah were replaced by members of the Carabinieri and Italian army. Italian forces in Iraq were under British command and those in Nasiriyah were some of about 3,000 total Italian servicemembers in the country, including 400 Carabinieri forces of the Multinational Specialized Unit.Italian death toll rises in Iraq - Nov. 12, 2003 CNN.com 2003-11-12 http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/11/12/sprj.irq.int.main/index.html 2018-01-23 2018-01-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20180124071608/http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/11/12/sprj.irq.int.main/index.html dead Attack The attack began shortly before 11:00 a.m. when a large tanker truck sped towards the entrance of the base. Carabiniere Andrea Filippa, who was part of the unit guarding the main gate and was among the casualties, managed to shoot and kill the two drivers before the vehicle could smash through the gate and enter the compound. The tanker slammed onto the gate, stopped and exploded in a massive fireball. Nearby houses sustained structural damage and a car carrying five Iraqi women was incinerated, killing those inside. The blast was so powerful that buildings across the Euphrates river suffered shattered windows. The front of the three-story building serving as the Italian headquarters collapsed. 18 Italian troops, including 12 Carabinieri policemen were killed in the blast along with an Italian civilian. A further 20 Italians and 80 Iraqis were wounded.Suicide blast wrecks Italian base BBC News 2003-11-12 https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3263087.stm 2018-01-23 2012-01-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20120105232926/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3263087.stm live Deadly Iraqi Blast Targets Italian Police Los Angeles Times 2003-11-13 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-nov-13-fg-blast13-story.html 2018-01-23 Aftermath The attack was the worst incident involving Italian soldiers since Operation Restore Hope in Somalia and the highest loss of Italian soldiers since World War II. The attack thus shocked Italy and plunged it into a three-daywell-sourced for one day, I don't see three days July 2025 mourning period. The soldiers were given a state funeral. Despite the large loss, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi reaffirmed his commitment to the mission in Iraq and President George W. Bush said in a statement at the White House, "Today in Iraq, a member of NATO, Italy, lost some proud sons in the service of freedom and peace."Cosgrove-Mather Bootie Italy Vows To Continue Iraq Fight CBS News 2003-11-12 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/italy-vows-to-continue-iraq-fight/ 2018-01-23 2018-01-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20180124071112/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/italy-vows-to-continue-iraq-fight/ live Italian Defence Minister Antonio Martino blamed Saddam Hussein loyalists saying, "evidence on the ground and intelligence reports lead us to believe that today's attack was planned and carried out by remnants loyal to Saddam... united with Arab extremists."Italian death toll rises in Iraq - Nov. 12, 2003 CNN.com 2003-11-12 http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/11/12/sprj.irq.int.main/index.html 2018-01-23 2018-01-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20180124071608/http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/11/12/sprj.irq.int.main/index.html live Film Nassiryia - Per non dimenticareNassiryia - Per non dimenticare (TV Movie 2007) - IMDb http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010032/reference 2021-07-14 2020-11-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20201124190210/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010032/reference live 20 Cigarettes References External links Attack on Italian police kills 26 in Iraq See also Operation Ancient Babylon 2017 Nasiriyah attacks Multinational Specialized Unit Iraq Category:2003 murders in Iraq Category:Suicide bombings in 2003 Category:2003 mass murders Category:Italy in the Iraq War Category:Suicide car and truck bombings in Iraq Category:Terrorist incidents in Iraq in 2003 Category:November 2003 in Iraq Category:Bombings in the Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011) Category:History of Nasiriyah Category:Dhi Qar Governorate in the Iraq War Category:Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad attacks Category:Car and truck bombings in 2003 Category:Building bombings in Iraq Category:2003 building bombings Category:Tank truck bombings Category:Attacks on military installations in 2003 Category:Arson in Iraq Category:2003 fires in Asia Category:Attacks on police stations in 2003 Category:Attacks on police stations in Iraq Category:Italian war casualties Category:Arson in 2003 Category:Attacks on military installations in Iraq Category:Industrial fires and explosions in Iraq Category:2003 industrial disasters Category:Attacks on military headquarters Category:Attacks on office buildings in Iraq Category:Iraq–Italy relations