The 2009 Kirkuk bombing was a suicide car bomb attack that occurred on June 30, 2009, in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk. The bombing killed 40 people and injured up to 100.[1]
The bomb, which exploded in a crowded district came as U.S. troops were leaving major urban cities in Iraq.[2]
Shortly after the attack, a Peshmerga brigade seized a car loaded with 250 kg of TNT. The explosives were being transported from Kirkuk to Sulaymaniyah.[3]
Context
The bombing coincided with a significant transition in Iraq's security landscape. On the same day, U.S. combat troops completed their withdrawal from major Iraqi cities, including Kirkuk, transferring security responsibilities to Iraqi forces. This strategic shift was part of the broader U.S. plan to reduce its military presence in Iraq.[4] The 2009 Kirkuk bombing underscored the persistent security challenges in Iraq during a period of political transition and the ongoing threat posed by insurgent groups. The attack highlighted the volatility in regions with complex ethnic and sectarian compositions, such as Kirkuk, and raised concerns about the readiness of Iraqi security forces to maintain stability following the withdrawal of U.S. troops. This tragic event is part of a series of violent incidents that plagued Iraq in 2009, reflecting the broader challenges the country faced in its pursuit of peace and reconstruction.
