Iraqi Prime Minister Announces Survival of Assassination Attempt | International

The Prime Minister of Iraq, Mustafa al Kadhimi, has survived an assassination attempt in the early hours of this Sunday, as he himself related in a message to the nation. A drone loaded with explosives has hit the residence of Al Khadimi, in the Green Zone, the most protected neighborhood in Baghdad. Several of his bodyguards have been injured in the attack for which no one has claimed responsibility. Political tension has soared in the country after several pro-Iranian groups rejected the results of the elections on October 10.

“My house has been the target of a cowardly aggression, but thank God, those who work with me and I are fine,” said the prime minister in a short televised message, which he also posted on his Twitter account. After stating that “missiles and drones do not build homelands or future”, al Kadhimi has appealed to Iraqis “for constructive and calm dialogue.”

His message came shortly after the Army press office reported the assassination attempt and assured that the prime minister and chief commander of the Armed Forces was “safe and sound.” “The security forces have taken all the necessary measures to confront this failed attack,” the text states.

The explosion has damaged several rooms in Al Kadhimi’s home, according to images released in the Iraqi media. The area of ​​Baghdad where it is located houses most of the government buildings and numerous embassies, including that of the United States, which is often targeted by pro-Iranian militias.

The Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr, whose party won the largest number of seats in the legislatures, but insufficient to form a government, has described the attack as “terrorist”. But no group has taken responsibility. Washington has condemned him and offered to assist in the investigation.

The attack, which according to security sources cited by Reuters has also injured six members of Al Kadhimi’s protection team deployed outside the house, occurred after a new day of protests over the results of the elections ended. in clashes between protesters and the police. Pro-Iranian groups, which have lost weight in the new Parliament, have been denouncing irregularities for weeks, but the Electoral Commission, which is still reviewing the complaints filed, has found no evidence in this regard.

The protests escalated on Friday, when protesters accused the security forces of “traitors” and called on them to lay down their arms and join them. Qais al Khazali, the leader of Asaib Ahl al Haq (AAH), one of the militias behind that mobilization, blamed the head of the Government for the death of two of the participants that day. “The blood of the martyrs will judge him,” he said just hours before the attack.

Al Khazali also recalled that his group had attacked several US military bases in retaliation for the assassinations of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al Mohandes (who led the Popular Mobilization Forces, under which the pro-Iranian militias are sheltered) and that they also he would take revenge on the prime minister. Those words now turn all eyes to him.

Al Kadhimi, a former head of the secret services, became head of government in May last year as a result of a tacit consensus between Iran and the United States. But Tehran is increasingly dissatisfied with the policies of the Iraqi prime minister, who has struggled to balance the influence of his eastern neighbor by strengthening relations with the Gulf monarchies.

Follow all the international information at Facebook and Twitter, o en our weekly newsletter.