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White House: ISIS attack in Iraq ‘abhorrent’

by Mark Hensch - 07/18/15 4:00 PM ET

The Obama administration Saturday called the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) “abhorrent” following its suicide bombing in Iraq’s eastern Diyala province that killed 115 people a day earlier.

“The United States strongly condemns yesterday’s abhorrent ISIL attack in Diyala Province which purposefully and viciously targeted Iraqi citizens celebrating the Eid ul-Fitr holiday to mark the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan,” said National Security Council (NSC) spokesman Ned Price, using an alternate acronym for the terrorist group.

{mosads}“This latest attack is yet another painful example of the atrocities that the terrorist group ISIL continues to perpetuate against the people of Iraq,” he added.

ISIS struck a crowded marketplace in Diyala Province on Friday evening with a small truck bomb, according to Time Magazine.

The explosion killed 115 people and wounded at least 170 more, including women and children.

Price vowed Saturday that America would help Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi punish ISIS for the savage incident.

“The United States remains steadfast in its commitment to work with Prime Minister al-Abadi and our partners in Iraq and the international community to bring an end to ISIL’s depravity,” he said.

“On behalf of the brave people of Diyala Province and all those Iraqis persecuted by ISIL, the United States will continue to support the government of Iraq and its security forces to degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist organization,” Price added.

Time reported Saturday that ISIS targeted a marketplace in the town of Khan Beni Saad in Diyala Province in Friday night’s attack.

They coordinated their strike with the end of Ramadan, Islam’s holiest month, that evening for Shiite Muslims.

Ramadan ended Thursday for Sunni Muslims. Iraqi security forces implemented dozens of new security checkpoints and protocols Saturday following the massacre, Time said.

ISIS, a Sunni Muslim terrorist organization, killed mainly Shiite victims during the bombing.

Friday evening’s attack was one of the deadliest single terrorist strikes in Iraq during the past decade.

ISIS currently controls approximately a third of Iraq and Syria in its self-declared caliphate.

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