ISIS Claims Credit for Attack at U.S. Consulate in Erbil

By Jeralyn, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Fri Apr 17, 2015 at 02:23:36 PM EST
Tags: ISIS, Erbil (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

On Twitter, ISIS is claiming credit for the car bomb attack today outside the U.S. embassy in Erbil. They say it was done by fighters in their Kirkuk division.

According to McClatchy:

A Kurdish security official told McClatchy that three attackers approached a checkpoint near the consulate in an SUV apparently with the intention of attacking it on foot to make room for a suicide bomber, who was either on foot or in the car. They were spotted by peshmerga security forces stationed outside the consulate, who opened fire. The security official said the three attackers were killed, though whether they were killed by gunshots or detonated explosives was unclear.

More photos here. [More...]

The heavily guarded facility, which houses diplomats and a military command center used to coordinate the air campaign led by the United States against the Islamic State, is located in a quiet residential and predominantly Christian section of the Kurdish capital. It’s accessible only through a heavily guarded pedestrian entrance.

This is ISIS' first attack on a U.S. facility in Iraq.

The U.S. says no American personnel were killed or injured. A western couple at a restaurant across the street are reportedly among the victims.

Reports say 5 were killed. There were three ambulances at the scene. At least one Peshmerga guard was taken away in one. The photos show a lot of destruction.

The FBI has reportedly flown into Erbil and is investigating.

More here.

When Obama announced the airstrikes, he specifically mentioned attacks on U.S.facilities such as Erbil could result in ground troops in Iraq. Was ISIS trying to provoke the U.S. into sending them?

In related news, Iraq is claiming to have killed Saddam ex official Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri in an attack near Tikrit. This has not yet been confirmed, although news photos of the dead man look a lot like him.

< Friday Open Thread | OKC Bombing: 20 Years Later >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

ISIS Claims Credit for Attack at U.S. Consulate in Erbil | 27 comments (27 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

The facts in the case (5.00 / 1) (#17)
by Mordiggian 88 on Tue Apr 21, 2015 at 09:46:38 AM EST

are quite different than what Jim is asserting in this thread;

This month, American officials pressed the Iraqi leadership to meet again at President Talabani's compound to discuss the issue. This time the Americans asked them to take a stand on the question of immunity for troops, hoping to remove what had always been the most difficult hurdle. But they misread Iraqi politics and the Iraqi public. Still burdened by the traumas of this and previous wars, and having watched the revolutions sweeping their region, the Iraqis were unwilling to accept anything that infringed on their sovereignty. [The New York Times,10/11/2011]

et al (3.00 / 1) (#13)
by jimakaPPJ on Mon Apr 20, 2015 at 04:46:59 PM EST

When Bush departed Iraq was stable.

Obama removed the troops in the face of opposition from his own military leaders.

What has happened since then has happened while Obama has been President.

Those are undeniable facts.

Obama is responsible.

: Forgot the SOFA (5.00 / 1) (#15)
by Mordiggian 88 on Mon Apr 20, 2015 at 05:22:04 PM EST

That Bush signed.
You're saying that Obama refused to break the SOFA that his predicesor agreed to, despite the advice of his "military experts".
Just quit with the Fox News lies, Jim.

: The Fact That This Has Been... (5.00 / 2) (#16)
by ScottW714 on Tue Apr 21, 2015 at 09:06:23 AM EST

...disproved about 500 times here(see below) and you willingly ignore the evidence is the sign of a serious mental defect.
You cling to your false assertions like a mental patient clings to their delusions. It's getting to the point Jim where I highly doubt you have the mental capacity to distinguish between reality and the your alternate utopia where everyone and everything but Fox News is wrong.

: Iraq (none / 0) (#14)
by FlJoe on Mon Apr 20, 2015 at 05:19:28 PM EST

was stable before Bush invaded. Bush's folly and the almost comically corrupt and inept occupation planted the seeds for decades of unrest. Those are undeniable facts.
You will never admit that this was Bush's war, he started it and he ended it. Obama merely followed through on Bush's end game, exactly as he promised to the American people.
Also you do realize that any troops we left would be acting as "enforcers" for the Baghdad government, who some consider Iranian puppets. Would you be comfortable with Iran benefiting from American blood ? Would you trust the cowardly Iraqi army not to run and hang our troops out to dry?

et al 1 (2.00 / 1) (#18)
by jimakaPPJ on Tue Apr 21, 2015 at 10:16:30 AM EST

Facts speak.

Iraq was stable.

Obama was President.

He was advised not to remove the troops.

He could have easily voided the SOFA.

He chose not to.

Iraq is collapsing and the Middle East is in flames.

Blood is on his hands. After the agreement with Iran turns them loose the blood will have an radioactive glow.

I wonder if they will torch NYC or DC first.

So (none / 0) (#19)
by FlJoe on Tue Apr 21, 2015 at 10:43:05 AM EST

You believe that the tyrant Obama could/should have just snapped his finger and voided an agreement made in good faith by our government that was supported by both countries governments and populace.

You believe that the tyrant Obama should enforce the "stability" in the ME with tens of thousands of US troops acting as enforcers for the Iranian puppets in Baghdad.

If you believe Iran is such a danger why on earth would you use our troops to support their strongest ally in the region?

Your grasp of geo-politics is non-existent.


Luck for Republicans... (none / 0) (#20)
by ScottW714 on Tue Apr 21, 2015 at 01:29:21 PM EST

...the trillion dollar invasion of Iraq has nothing to do with the current state of disarray. How convenient that the mission was accomplished only for Obama to screw up.

Idiot.


et al 2 (2.00 / 1) (#21)
by jimakaPPJ on Tue Apr 21, 2015 at 03:01:53 PM EST

Scott, yes you are.

FlJoe - You and other Obamabots can say that Bush invaded Iraq and be correct.

You can claim he shouldn't have and some will agree.

You can claim all sorts of things...

But what you have to admit is this.

Obama had the resources and the advice of the military to keep forces in Iraq.

He went against that advice and the result is there for all to see.

Now, should we police the ME?? Well, we're gonna have to fight the radical islamists sooner or later. Sooner will be easier.


: It's Just Too Bad... (5.00 / 1) (#26)
by ScottW714 on Tue Apr 21, 2015 at 04:35:30 PM EST

...Iraq wasn't stable before Bush Invaded them. Then all of this could have been avoided and the US would be a trillion richer and many young men would not be dead or disabled.
We clearly avoided a huge threat with that invasion, certainly and without a doubt, Bush brought democracy to the Middle East.
Success story of the century.
Jesus, even Homer Simpson stops putting his finger in the light socket after like 15 shocks.

I wonder if you should opt (none / 0) (#22)
by jondee on Tue Apr 21, 2015 at 03:31:26 PM EST

for a lobotomy or shock treatments..

When in Iran's entire history have they expressed any intention of launching a suicidal military attack on the U.S?

You're in Pamela Geller-Anders Breivik mode.


: He has to be paranoid (none / 0) (#23)
by Mordiggian 88 on Tue Apr 21, 2015 at 03:39:37 PM EST

about something besides ISIS these days........

et Jim (none / 0) (#24)
by jondee on Tue Apr 21, 2015 at 03:53:59 PM EST

me, I'm wondering whether you need to go the lobotomy route, or just opt for the more conventional few rounds of electro-convulsive therapy..

You truly enter unhinged Pamela Geller-Anders Breivik territory whenever the subject turns to Iran..

When do think North Korea, Pakistan, or Vladimir Putin are going to make NYC glow? Who or what do you think is stopping them? Maybe we should bomb 'em all back to the Stone Age. Get them before they get us..

: Clearly... (5.00 / 1) (#25)
by ScottW714 on Tue Apr 21, 2015 at 04:30:08 PM EST

...the medication isn't working.

Oh, thank gawd no Amuricans were killed! (none / 0) (#1)
by oculus on Fri Apr 17, 2015 at 03:27:17 PM EST

Is it a good idea to wear a jacket emblazoned "FBI"?

yep... (none / 0) (#2)
by fishcamp on Fri Apr 17, 2015 at 03:45:12 PM EST

and shave your head.


: - and your face. (none / 0) (#3)
by Mr Natural on Fri Apr 17, 2015 at 07:44:45 PM EST

Mission Accomplished, Dubya: (none / 0) (#4)
by Mr Natural on Sat Apr 18, 2015 at 01:38:07 PM EST

A suicide bomber has killed 33 people queuing outside a bank in Jalalabad in what is thought to be the first terrorist attack in Afghanistan carried out by Islamic State.

Here is another... (none / 0) (#6)
by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Sun Apr 19, 2015 at 10:31:06 AM EST

...you can thank Dubya for.


And ISIS just (none / 0) (#7)
by jimakaPPJ on Sun Apr 19, 2015 at 04:26:51 PM EST

released a video showing two more killings..

That Bush was a busy man.

Of course Obama was the President when the troops were brought home and ISIS started.


Yup (none / 0) (#8)
by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Mon Apr 20, 2015 at 06:56:23 AM EST

Under Bush Iraqi villages held elections.
Under Obama they hold female slave auctions.
Obama has done more to fuel the war on women than anyone else in recent history.


So Obama (5.00 / 3) (#9)
by Ga6thDem on Mon Apr 20, 2015 at 08:12:45 AM EST

is responsible for the GOP's hatred of women? The GOP was that way long before Obama came on the scene.


: And if you blame the Bush Administration (none / 0) (#10)
by Mordiggian 88 on Mon Apr 20, 2015 at 08:38:05 AM EST

for disbanding the Iraqi Army, you're just a librul hater.

Man, You Two Really Gots the Jokes Today... (5.00 / 2) (#12)
by ScottW714 on Mon Apr 20, 2015 at 03:32:29 PM EST

...it not like Bush started a war in the middle east for no discernible reason. But GD if Obama shouldn't be on his knees thanking the idiot for spreading democracy in the ME.

You two with the jokes that some how it's not Bush's fault that Iraq is a complete mess. I guess 8 years in a war that they claimed would last weeks, wasn't enough time to turn it into the utopia Rumsfeld marketed.

I am just waiting for it to pay for itself. Maybe they could put that trillion plus dollars in Social Security.

If only the their head honcho had done the cod piece walk of shame called 'Mission Accomplished', then the GOP could take blame for their catastrophic failures.


Jokes? (2.00 / 1) (#27)
by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Wed Apr 22, 2015 at 08:01:01 AM EST

Those female slave auctions are an adjunct to genocide. That is not a joking matter.


: Of course (5.00 / 1) (#28)
by FlJoe on Wed Apr 22, 2015 at 08:27:43 AM EST

there is nothing at all funny about the situation in the ME, however your revisionist history is laughable.

The true (none / 0) (#11)
by FlJoe on Mon Apr 20, 2015 at 09:49:46 AM EST

origins of ISIS. The echoes of Bush's folly will echo for decades no matter who is president, no matter what our policies are.
