This 13-minute tape appeared over a month after the attacks on the Palestine and Sheraton hotels in Baghdad , issued by al-Qaeda in the Land of the Two Rivers . The operation was a triple tap attack, reminiscent of other al-Qaeda attacks internationally, such as the May 12, 2003 compound attack in Riyadh . The use of the three vehicles demonstrated the commitment of this group to attack the hotels?specifically the Palestine hotel.

In addition to the fact that this was a triple explosion attack and the choice of the Palestine and Sheraton hotels was a clear message to the foreign journalists who are housed there, there were other aspects of this operation that set it apart from usual attacks. The three vehicles used were a minivan, a Jeep SUV, and a cement mixer. It is probable that the vehicle used to attack the Sheraton was only a decoy to distract attention from the main operation at the Palestine hotel. The cement mixer was a prime choice to carry a large load of explosives, believed to be TNT, to the site without creating suspicion. Despite the fact that this is the third time a cement mixer has been used in attacks in Iraq (Terrorist Incidents forthcoming), the average person would not think to suspect a cement mixer as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).