The U.S. has condemned Sunday’s terrorist attacks in Baghdad that killed at least 124 people and wounded 186 others on Sunday.
In a statement issued Sunday, National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said, "We remain united with the Iraqi people and government in our combined efforts to destroy ISIL (Islamic State). These attacks only strengthen our resolve to support Iraqi security forces as they continue to take back territory from ISIL, just as we continue to intensify our efforts to root out ISIL's terrorist network and leaders."
Earlier Sunday, Iraqi Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi met with U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Stuart Jones in Baghdad. The officials discussed how the two countries can better collaborate in the fight against Islamic State.
The first blast, a suicide truck bombing, occurred shortly after midnight Sunday at a busy shopping area, killing at least 119 people and wounding 170 others. It was the most deadly attack in the Iraqi capital this year.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the blast in the Karrada district, saying Shi'ites were targeted. The jihadist group considers Shi'ites heretics.
In the second attack, an explosive device detonated in Baghdad's northern Shaab area, killing at least five people and wounding 16. No one has claimed responsibility for this attack.
Pope Francis delivered a prayer for the victims in Iraq and for a separate bombing Friday in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The pope told tens of thousands of worshipers in St. Peter's square he feels "closeness to the families of the victims" and asked those gathered to "pray together" for them.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi visited the site of the bombing hours after the attack.
Suicide Bombing in Baghdad, Iraq
The attack came little more than a week after Iraqi forces ousted Islamic State militants from the city of Fallujah, just 50 kilometers west of the capital.
A second deadly blast occurred in eastern Baghdad, killing at least one person and wounding several others. There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the second blast.
Latest high profile attack
This is the third major act of terrorism claimed by IS in a week, following the suicide attack Tuesday at Ataturk International Airport that killed more than 40 people, and the siege of a restaurant in Dhaka in which more than 20 people died.
Bangladeshi officials insist, however, the Dhaka attackers had no connection with Islamic State. The Bangladesh government has long maintained IS has no presence in the country.
