[xtypo_dropcap]A[/xtypo_dropcap]t least 50 people were killed and over 180 wounded in three suicide attacks in Iraq on Thursday marking the third consecutive day of suicide attacks in the country leaving an estimated 116 people dead.
Thursday’s attack took place in the city of Karbala where millions of Shi'ite pilgrims were making a pilgrimage.
The recent string of suicide attacks won’t affect the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011, said U.S. Defense Department spokesman Marine Corps Col. David Lapan.
“The Iraqis have not asked us for assistance, and we are still on our timeline to draw down by the end of the year,” said Lapan in a statement.
“There will be times when there are these spectacular attacks that are perpetrated to try to derail the process,” he said.
At present about 47,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq, mainly involved in training and assisting Iraqi security forces.
Thursday’s attack took place in the city of Karbala where millions of Shi'ite pilgrims were making a pilgrimage.
The recent string of suicide attacks won’t affect the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011, said U.S. Defense Department spokesman Marine Corps Col. David Lapan.
“The Iraqis have not asked us for assistance, and we are still on our timeline to draw down by the end of the year,” said Lapan in a statement.
“There will be times when there are these spectacular attacks that are perpetrated to try to derail the process,” he said.
At present about 47,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq, mainly involved in training and assisting Iraqi security forces.
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