Female Suicide Bombers in Iraq

The US-led invasion of Iraq unleashed a never-before-witnessed flood of suicide attacks totally over 900 to date (a world record) which have killed over 10,000 since 2003. In recent years, the groups using suicide terrorism in Iraq have faced hardened targets and difficult-to-cross checkpoints which they have responded to by a dramatic increase in sending female suicide bombers on foot, who conceal their bombs under their long robes. Senders use women because they more easily cross security checkpoints and are not in leadership positions and are, therefore, expendable. Would-be bombers often have relationships with such groups prior to the bombings and are highly vulnerable to psychological exploitation when bereaved, widowed, or otherwise traumatized. These women are, in many cases, motivated by trauma and revenge and go to their targets unaccompanied, which may signify high motivational states. In some cases, coercion and trickery is involved. Preventing female suicide attacks involves minimizing local support for suicide operations and terrorism in general, arresting terrorist groups and dampening down the conflict in general to reduce incidents of trauma and bereavement, using women at checkpoints to check women, and offering social, occupational, and psychological support to women vulnerable to recruitment for such missions.