A bomb killed two Iraqi government officials and six other people and injured at least 23 when it exploded in the Iraqi parliament building’s cafeteria inside Baghdad’s Green Zone. This first bombing of the government building came just after the speaker of parliament condemned the bombing of Baghdad’s Sarafiya bridge, which partially collapsed into the Tigris River on Thursday, killing at least eight people. So much for the “surge.”

The bridge and the cafeteria attacks are major blows to the much-trumpeted Baghdad security surge now in its third month, the BBC’s Jim Muir in Baghdad says.

BBC: Explosion at Iraqi Parliament Cafe

An explosion has hit a cafeteria at the Iraqi parliament, killing at least eight people, at least two of them MPs, the U.S. military has said.

Police said they believed a suicide bomber was involved, but that they were keeping an open mind about the cause.

Read more

BBC: Bomb Targets Baghdad Bridge

A truck bomb explosion on a bridge in Baghdad has killed at least eight people and sent several cars toppling into the River Tigris below.

The rush-hour blast partially destroyed the Sarafiya Bridge by collapsing one of its girders.

Read more

TRUTHDIG’S JOURNALISM REMAINS CLEAR

The storytellers of chaos tried to manipulate the political and media narrative in 2025, but independent journalism exposed what they tried to hide. When you read Truthdig, you see through the illusion.

Support Independent Journalism.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG