BAGHDAD: The Iraqi security forces announced on Sunday the arrest of two gunmen for targeting a KFC restaurant branch located on Palestine Street in Baghdad with a handmade bomb.
According to a statement released by Baghdad Operations Command, the identities of the attackers were determined after reviewing security camera footage from the scene. Handguns were also seized from the suspects during the arrest.
Although the restaurant’s entryway sustained material damage from the explosion, no casualties were reported as a result of the attack.
The attack on the KFC branch brings attention to the broader context of tensions in the Middle East, with some Western companies facing calls for boycotts due to ties to Israel. Notably, famous American fast-food chain KFC is among the businesses targeted by such demands, alongside other well-known chains like McDonald’s and Starbucks.
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which has resulted in significant loss of life and ongoing hostilities, has further fueled calls for boycotts against companies perceived to have connections to Israel. Over 35,984 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in the ongoing relentless Israeli bombardment campaign in Gaza since October 7 last year.
