Iraq marks 23rd anniversary of 2003 UN headquarters bombing in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Permanent Mission to the United Nations joined a commemorative ceremony at UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday marking the 23rd anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the UN office in Baghdad. The event, held as part of World Humanitarian Day at the memorial for victims at the UN headquarters, was attended by Secretary-General António Guterres, who laid a wreath at the memorial before a minute of silence was observed. In a statement released after the ceremony, Iraq's Foreign Ministry said terrorism "knows no borders, religion or nationality" and stressed that countering it requires a shared international effort and a united stance. The ministry also recalled the August 19, 2009 attack on the Iraqi Foreign Ministry building in Baghdad. The government expressed gratitude to UN staff and humanitarian workers for their sacrifices in pursuit of peace and humanity. No further details on the ceremony or planned follow-up events were immediately available.