Major insurgent attacks Foreign interventions IS genocide of minorities IS war crimes Timeline On 7 July 2016, at least 56 people were killed and 75 injured after a group of attackers stormed the Mausoleum of Sayid Mohammed bin Ali al-Hadi, a Shia holy site in Balad, Iraq.

[5] They attacked Shia pilgrims celebrating Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

[7] After that attack, an Iraqi official speaking to the Guardian predicted that the group's next target would be a Shia shrine, reflecting its "desperation".

Located at the shrine were many Shia pilgrims celebrating Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

[10] The third bomber was stopped from entering the shrine after being hugged by a civilian, instead detonating his suicide vest outside of the gate near police officers.

[17] Sheikh Abu Salam Saede, a tribal leader from Balad, interpreted the bombing as an attempt to restart sectarian violence caused by ISIL's defeat at Fallujah eight days prior, and blamed the Saudi ambassador.

However, the Guardian commented that the "toxic heights" of 2006, when sectarian conflict was ignited after the al-Askari mosque bombing had not yet been reached, a view shared by al-Sufi, as "political leaders and tribal figures [...] asked for citizens to put their faith in the government to stop the attacks".