2008 Karmah bombing

26 June 2008 Karmah bombing
LocationAl-Karmah, Iraq
Date26 June 2008 (UTC+3)
TargetTribal Sheik meeting
Attack type
Suicide bombing
Deaths25
InjuredUnknown
PerpetratorsIslamic State of Iraq

The 26 June 2008 Karmah bombing was a suicide attack on a meeting of tribal sheiks in the town of Al-Karmah. Three Marines from 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines (including the battalion's commanding officer), as well as twenty Iraqi sheiks and the mayor of Karmah, were killed when a suicide bomber dressed as an Iraqi Policeman detonated an explosive vest. Two interpreters were also killed in the blast.[1][2] The aftermath of the attack was captured on film by photojournalist Zoriah Miller.[3] The commanding officer of 2/3, LtCol Max Galeai and two other Marines (Captain Philip J. Dykeman and Cpl. Marcus W. Preudhomme) from the battalion were killed.[4] In June 2008, it was announced that Anbar would be the tenth province to transfer to Provincial Iraqi Control, the first Sunni Arab region to be handed back. This handover was delayed due to the attack.[5][6] The handover did occur on September 1, 2008.[7] Two insurgents linked to the bombing were later caught in Tamariya.[6]

  1. ^ "Suicide bomber kills 3 Hawaii Marines - Battalion commander among suicide bomber's victims". 28 June 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2008.[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ "U.S. Department of Defense". U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 12 May 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Anbar Province Suicide Bombing - Zoriah's Eyewitness Account - Iraq War Diary". ZORIAH - A PHOTOJOURNALIST AND WAR PHOTOGRAPHER'S BLOG. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  4. ^ Vorsino, Mary (28 June 2008). "Suicide bomber kills 3 Hawaii Marines - Battalion commander among suicide bomber's victims". The Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved 28 June 2008.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ Cocks, Tim (27 June 2008). "U.S. handover of Iraqi province delayed". Reuters. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
  6. ^ a b Yacoub, Sameer (1 August 2008). "Insurgents linked to US Marine deaths caught". AP via Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
  7. ^ "US hands over key Iraq province". BBC News. 1 September 2008. Archived from the original on 30 September 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2008.