Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, bombings have killed thousands, including forces of U.S-led coalition, officials of Iraqi federal government and civilians. Suicide bombings have been used as a tactic in other armed struggles, but their frequency and lethality in Iraq is unprecedented.[1] During the invasion, the United States and United Kingdom dropped 29,199 bombs.[2] The article does not list these, but concentrates on the smaller number of insurgent bombings during the post-invasion phase of the Iraqi conflict (2003–present).
Most of the bombings were carried out by Sunni insurgents and Sunni Islamist organizations such as Jama'at al-Tawhid wal Jihad, Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Jama'at Ansar al-Sunna, and the Islamic State of Iraq. The main targets of the bombings were the forces of the U.S.-led coalition and those collaborating with it. The Islamic State of Iraq organization also targeted Shia civilians.