Iraqi prime minister calls for restraint after drone assassination attempt fails
- Mustafa al-Kadhimi escaped unhurt after a drone laden with explosives targeted his residence in Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone
- It comes amid a stand-off between security forces and pro-Iran Shiite militias whose supporters have been camped outside the Green Zone for weeks
The attack in Baghdad’s Green Zone early on November 7 was the first to target the home of Kadhimi, who has been in power since May 2020. It came as Iraq’s political parties negotiate alliances over who will run the next government after elections last month.
The assassination attempt with armed drones is a major escalation amid tensions sparked by the refusal of Iran-backed militias to accept last month’s parliamentary election results.
Two Iraqi officials said that seven of Kadhimi’s security guards were injured in the attack which occurred in the heavily fortified Green Zone area. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to give official statements.
Security sources said three drones were launched, but two were shot down. In a tweet, Kadhemi called “for calm and restraint on the part of everyone for the good of Iraq”.
“My residence has been the target of a cowardly assault. Praise God, I am fine”, he then said in a short video shared on social media.
In a statement, the government said the drones tried to hit Kadhimi’s home. Residents of Baghdad heard the sound of an explosion followed by gunfire from the direction of the Green Zone, which houses foreign embassies and government offices.
The statement released by state-run media said the failed assassination attempt was with “an explosives-laden drone that tried to target his residence in the Green Zone”.
“The security forces are taking the necessary measures in connection with this failed attempt,” it said.
It was not clear who was behind the attack, nor did anyone immediately claim responsibility. “This apparent act of terrorism, which we strongly condemn, was directed at the heart of the Iraqi state,” said the US State Department in a statement that offered help with the investigation.
“The assassination attempt is a dramatic escalation, crossing a line in unprecedented fashion that may have violent reverberations,” wrote Ranj Alaaldin, a non-resident fellow at Brookings Institution, in a post on Twitter.
Protests turned deadly on Friday when the demonstrators marched toward the Green Zone. There was an exchange of fire in which one protester affiliated with the militias was killed. Dozens of security forces were injured. Khadimi ordered an investigation to determine what sparked the clashes and who violated orders not to open fire.
Some of the leaders of the most powerful militia factions loyal to Iran openly blamed Kadhimi for Friday’s clashes and the protester’s death.
“The blood of martyrs is to hold you accountable,” said Qais al-Khazali, leader of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia, addressing Kadhimi at a funeral held for the protester. “The protesters only had one demand against fraud in elections. Responding like this [with live fire] means you are the first responsible for this fraud.”
The funeral was attended by leaders of the mostly Shiite Iran-backed factions who together are known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces, or Hashd al-Shaabi in Arabic.
Abu Alaa al-Walae, Commander of Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, in a tweet apparently addressed to Kadhimi that did not name him told him to forget about another term.
The United States, the UN Security Council and others have praised the October 10 election, which was mostly violence-free and without major technical glitches.
But following the vote, militia supporters pitched tents near the Green Zone, rejecting the election results and threatening violence unless their demands for a recount were met.
The unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud have cast a shadow over the vote. The stand-off with the militia supporters has also increased tensions among rival Shiite factions that could reflect on the street and threaten Iraq’s new-found relative stability.
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The militias lost some popularity since the 2018 vote, when they made big election gains. Many hold them responsible for suppressing the 2019 protests, and for challenging the state’s authority.
The biggest gains were made by influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who won the largest number of parliament seats, 73 out of 329. While he maintains good relations with Iran, Sadr publicly opposes external interference in Iraq’s affairs.
The protests appeared to be aimed at pressuring Sadr to ensure that Iran-aligned factions are part of the next cabinet. As the winner, Sadr’s bloc will seek coalition partners and name the prime minister.
Additional reporting by AFP
