Editing Improvised explosive device (section)

===Iraq===
[[File:Size0-army mil-44434-2009-07-10-090719.jpg|thumb|A [[Stryker]] lies on its side following a buried IED blast in [[Iraq]]. (2007)]]
In the 2003–2011 [[Iraq War]], IEDs have been used extensively against [[Coalition force]]s and by the end of 2007 they have been responsible for at least 64% of Coalition deaths in Iraq.<ref name="icasualties" />

Since the detonation of the first IED in Iraq in 2003, more than 81,000 IED attacks have occurred in the country, killing and wounding 21,200 Americans.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=phqpAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT578|title=Handbook of Defence Politics: International and Comparative Perspectives|publisher=Taylor and Francis|year=2011|isbn=9781136639470|pages=578}}</ref>

Beginning in July 2003, the [[Iraqi insurgency (Iraq War)|Iraqi insurgency]] used IEDs to target invading coalition vehicles. According to ''[[The Washington Post]]'', 64% of U.S. deaths in Iraq occurred due to IEDs.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Washington Post |date=30 September 2007 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2007/09/28/GR2007092802161.html |title=More Attacks, Mounting Casualties |access-date=18 October 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331143436/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2007/09/28/GR2007092802161.html|archive-date=March 31, 2014}}</ref> A French study<ref name="Steinhofer">Jean-Pierre Steinhoffer :  " Irak :  les pertes de la Coalition par EEI ", in ''le Casoar'' January 2007.</ref> showed that in Iraq, from March 2003 to November 2006, on a global {{formatnum:3070}} deaths in the US-led invading coalition soldiers, {{formatnum:1257}} were caused by IEDs, i.e. 41%. That is to say more than in the "normal fights" (1027 dead, 34%). Insurgents now{{When|date=August 2021}} use the bombs to target not only invading coalition vehicles but Iraqi police as well.{{according to whom?|date=October 2024}}

Common locations for placing these bombs on the ground include animal [[Carrion|carcasses]], [[soft drink can]]s, and [[box]]es.  Typically, they explode underneath or to the side of the vehicle to cause the maximum amount of damage. However, as [[vehicle armour]] was improved on military vehicles, insurgents began placing IEDs in elevated positions such as on [[traffic sign|road signs]], utility poles, or trees, to hit less protected areas.{{according to whom?|date=October 2024}}

IEDs in Iraq may be made with [[artillery]] or [[mortar (weapon)|mortar]] [[projectile|shell]]s or with varying amounts of bulk or homemade [[explosive]]s.  Early during the Iraq war, the bulk explosives were often obtained from stored munitions bunkers to include stripping landmines of their explosives.{{according to whom?|date=October 2024}}

Despite the increased [[armor]], IEDs are killing military personnel and civilians with greater frequency. May 2007 was the deadliest month for IED attacks thus far, with a reported 89 of the 129 invading coalition casualties coming from an IED attack.<ref name="icasualties">{{Cite web|url=http://icasualties.org/oif/IED.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113201909/http://icasualties.org/oif/IED.aspx|url-status=dead|title=iCasualties: OIF – Deaths by IED<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=13 January 2009}}</ref> According to the Pentagon, 250,000 tons (out of 650,000 tons total) of Iraqi heavy ordnance were looted, providing a large supply of ammunition for the insurgents.

In October 2005, the UK government charged that [[Iran]] was supplying insurgents with the technological know-how to make [[shaped charge]] IEDs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4312516.stm |title=Middle East &#124; Iran 'behind attacks on British' |work=BBC News |date=5 October 2005 |access-date=18 October 2009}}</ref> Both Iranian and Iraqi government officials denied the allegations.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4315924.stm |title=Middle East &#124; Blair warns Iran over Iraq bombs |work=BBC News |date=6 October 2005 |access-date=18 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://nyjtimes.com/cover/11-11-05/IranWarnedNotToMeddle.htm |title=British Official Warns Iran Not to Meddle in Iraq |publisher=Nyjtimes.com |date=8 June 2004 |access-date=18 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108232100/http://nyjtimes.com/cover/11-11-05/IranWarnedNotToMeddle.htm |archive-date=8 January 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

During the [[Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)]], [[ISIL]] has made extensive use of suicide [[VBIED]]s, often driven by children, elderly and disabled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/news/a19555/why-isis-is-building-mad-max-truck-bombs/|title=Why ISIS Is Building Mad Max Truck Bombs|date=23 February 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102141411/https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/news/a19555/why-isis-is-building-mad-max-truck-bombs/|archive-date=November 2, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qasioun.net/en/news/show/53297/ISIS_Forcing_Children_and_Disabled_People_to_Drive_VBIEDs,_Says_Isler|title=ISIS Forcing Children and Disabled People to Drive VBIEDs, Says Isler – Qasion News Agency|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018080957/http://www.qasioun.net/en/news/show/53297/ISIS_Forcing_Children_and_Disabled_People_to_Drive_VBIEDs,_Says_Isler|archive-date=October 18, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defensetech.org/2014/10/30/isis-releases-photos-of-militants-using-u-s-m113s-as-vbieds/|title=ISIS Releases Photos of Militants Using U.S. M113s as VBIEDS – Defensetech|date=30 October 2014|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105134019/http://defensetech.org/2014/10/30/isis-releases-photos-of-militants-using-u-s-m113s-as-vbieds/|archive-date=November 5, 2014}}</ref>

On August 27, 2023, Israeli security forces successfully foiled an attempt to smuggle Iranian-made explosives into Israel from Jordan. The thwarted smuggling operation in the Jordan Valley aimed to supply terror groups in the West Bank with explosives. Counter-smuggling efforts along the border have led to increased seizures of weapons and explosive devices.<ref>{{Cite news |last= Fabian |first=Emanuel |date=2023-08-27  |title= Israel says it foiled bid to smuggle Iran-made explosives over Jordan border |language=en |work= The Times of Israel |url= https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-says-it-foiled-bid-to-smuggle-iran-made-explosives-over-jordan-border/  |access-date=2023-08-31}}</ref>