Baghdad: IraqPrime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi said he was unwell and appealed for “calm and restraint” after a drone attack on his residence early on Sunday raised political tensions in the war-torn country.
The attack in Baghdad’s Green Zone was the first to target the residence of Kadhemi, who has been in power since May 2020. It came as Iraq’s political parties were negotiating a coalition about who would run the next government after elections last month.
That vote saw the Victory (Fatah) coalition, the political arm of the pro-Iranian Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitary network, suffer a significant drop in its parliamentary seats, with the group condemning the result as a “fraud”.
The big winner was the freedad movement with more than 70 seats according to the initial count. sadri, a Shia Muslim preacher who preached as a nationalist and critic of Iran.
According to a security source, no group has yet claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack, in which two bodyguards were injured.
After the strike, gunshots were heard from the Green Zone area and smoke was seen rising.
Images released by Kadhemi’s office showed debris scattered on the ground under a damaged exterior staircase and a door that was uprooted.
In a tweet, Kadhemi called for “calm and restraint on behalf of all for the good of Iraq”.
He then said in a short video shared on social media, “My residence has been targeted for a cowardly attack. Praise God, I am fine and those working with me are also fine.”
His office described the attack as a “failed assassination attempt”.
‘State of Heart’
The United States, which has about 2,500 troops in the country, said it was “relieved to learn that the prime minister was not harmed”.
“This apparent act of terrorism, which we strongly condemn, was at the heart of the Iraqi state,” a State Department spokesman said. Ned Price said.
He said in a statement that the US had offered assistance to Iraqi security forces investigating the attack.
Iraq’s President Barham Salih, who plays a largely ceremonial role, called for the attack “a joint position to confront rogue actors trying to jeopardize the security of this country and its people.” is required.
“We cannot accept Iraq being dragged into a coup against anarchy and constitutional order.”
A large number of security forces were deployed in and around the Green Zone, which also hosts the US embassy and has often been targeted by rocket attacks.
On 31 October, three rockets were fired at Mansoor in the neighboring district, with no casualties.
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) joined Kadhemi’s call for restraint.
It said it “strongly encourages all parties to take responsibility for de-escalation and engage in dialogue to de-escalate political tensions while maintaining Iraq’s national interest”.
Influential cleric Sadar said the attack was “against Iraq and the Iraqi people”.
This came during a period of rising tension over the results of the October 10 elections, the fifth dictator since the 2003 US-led invasion toppled. Saddam Hussein With the promise of bringing freedom and democracy.
Hundreds of Hashed supporters clashed with police on Friday near the Green Zone to vent their anger over the preliminary results.
According to a security source, one of the protesters died in the hospital, while a source at Hashed said two protesters were killed.
Several hundred supporters of pro-Iranian groups returned to the Green Zone on Saturday to protest, and some burned a portrait of the prime minister, whom they called a “criminal”.
Iraqi political analyst Ahsan al-Shamari has said that the pro-Hash protest is aimed at bolstering its negotiating position during the coalition bargaining process.
According to early figures, Conquest won about 15 of the 329 parliament seats, down from 48 previously, making it the second largest bloc.
Final election results are expected within weeks.
Kadhemi brought forward the ballot, originally planned for the following year, in a concession to anti-government protests over endemic corruption, Iranian influence, unemployment and failing public services in the oil-rich but poverty-stricken country.
Activists accuse Hashed’s armed forces – whose 160,000 fighters are now integrated into Iraq’s state security forces – of being sympathetic to Iran and acting as a means of persecution against critics.
Other drone strikes in Iraq in the past few months have been particularly against US interests.
Officials in the United States allege that Iran supplied drones used in attacks by its allies around the Middle East.
The Treasury Department approved the Brigadier General in late October. Saeed Aghajani Who heads the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Command of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
The attack in Baghdad’s Green Zone was the first to target the residence of Kadhemi, who has been in power since May 2020. It came as Iraq’s political parties were negotiating a coalition about who would run the next government after elections last month.
That vote saw the Victory (Fatah) coalition, the political arm of the pro-Iranian Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitary network, suffer a significant drop in its parliamentary seats, with the group condemning the result as a “fraud”.
The big winner was the freedad movement with more than 70 seats according to the initial count. sadri, a Shia Muslim preacher who preached as a nationalist and critic of Iran.
According to a security source, no group has yet claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack, in which two bodyguards were injured.
After the strike, gunshots were heard from the Green Zone area and smoke was seen rising.
Images released by Kadhemi’s office showed debris scattered on the ground under a damaged exterior staircase and a door that was uprooted.
In a tweet, Kadhemi called for “calm and restraint on behalf of all for the good of Iraq”.
He then said in a short video shared on social media, “My residence has been targeted for a cowardly attack. Praise God, I am fine and those working with me are also fine.”
His office described the attack as a “failed assassination attempt”.
‘State of Heart’
The United States, which has about 2,500 troops in the country, said it was “relieved to learn that the prime minister was not harmed”.
“This apparent act of terrorism, which we strongly condemn, was at the heart of the Iraqi state,” a State Department spokesman said. Ned Price said.
He said in a statement that the US had offered assistance to Iraqi security forces investigating the attack.
Iraq’s President Barham Salih, who plays a largely ceremonial role, called for the attack “a joint position to confront rogue actors trying to jeopardize the security of this country and its people.” is required.
“We cannot accept Iraq being dragged into a coup against anarchy and constitutional order.”
A large number of security forces were deployed in and around the Green Zone, which also hosts the US embassy and has often been targeted by rocket attacks.
On 31 October, three rockets were fired at Mansoor in the neighboring district, with no casualties.
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) joined Kadhemi’s call for restraint.
It said it “strongly encourages all parties to take responsibility for de-escalation and engage in dialogue to de-escalate political tensions while maintaining Iraq’s national interest”.
Influential cleric Sadar said the attack was “against Iraq and the Iraqi people”.
This came during a period of rising tension over the results of the October 10 elections, the fifth dictator since the 2003 US-led invasion toppled. Saddam Hussein With the promise of bringing freedom and democracy.
Hundreds of Hashed supporters clashed with police on Friday near the Green Zone to vent their anger over the preliminary results.
According to a security source, one of the protesters died in the hospital, while a source at Hashed said two protesters were killed.
Several hundred supporters of pro-Iranian groups returned to the Green Zone on Saturday to protest, and some burned a portrait of the prime minister, whom they called a “criminal”.
Iraqi political analyst Ahsan al-Shamari has said that the pro-Hash protest is aimed at bolstering its negotiating position during the coalition bargaining process.
According to early figures, Conquest won about 15 of the 329 parliament seats, down from 48 previously, making it the second largest bloc.
Final election results are expected within weeks.
Kadhemi brought forward the ballot, originally planned for the following year, in a concession to anti-government protests over endemic corruption, Iranian influence, unemployment and failing public services in the oil-rich but poverty-stricken country.
Activists accuse Hashed’s armed forces – whose 160,000 fighters are now integrated into Iraq’s state security forces – of being sympathetic to Iran and acting as a means of persecution against critics.
Other drone strikes in Iraq in the past few months have been particularly against US interests.
Officials in the United States allege that Iran supplied drones used in attacks by its allies around the Middle East.
The Treasury Department approved the Brigadier General in late October. Saeed Aghajani Who heads the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Command of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
.