The International

Three explosions occurred today, November 6, in a market in Baghdad, on the first day of Eid Al-Adha, a Muslim holiday commemorating Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, reports Reuters. As stated by the Baghdad police and the staff of Al-Kindi Hospital, the blasts left at least eight dead and 26 wounded in the city’s central market of Shurja.

This is not the first time that celebrating Muslims are being attacked on their holiday. Earlier today, a suicide bomber detonated himself during Eid al-Adha festivities in the Afghani town of Old Baghlan. The attack resulted in six dead and at least 20 wounded, reports the Associated Press. The perpetrator is reported to have detonated his device as many worshipers were leaving the mosque after holiday prayers, so as to do the maximum amount of damage. BBC News also reports that a second suicide bomber was apprehended by Afghani police before he could set off a second bomb.

Since the US armed forces are scheduled to leave Iraq by the end of this year, all tasks of internal security will lay squarely on the Iraqi police. This is causing some experts to question whether Iraq’s internal security forces are ready to undertake such responsibility, and wonder whether the departure of the 33,000 American soldiers in December will cause a rise in sectarian violence in the country.

After the bombing, Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki asked Iraqis not to lose faith in the country’s stability and urged the internal security forces to maintain constant vigil over potential threats. “You have done much for Iraq, but Iraq remains in the circle of danger. It needs more attention and care,” said Al-Maliki to security officials as quoted by The Associated Press.

Even though the level of violence in Iraq has lessened since its peak in 2006-7, it still remains considerably high. The number of insurgent attacks against the Iraqi army and police, and even civilians, has been increasing since October.