Its services speak of a “Failed assassination attempt”. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi “Was not injured” during an attack on the night of Saturday 5 to Sunday 6 November by means of a “Trapped drone” who targeted his residence in the Green Zone in Baghdad, his office said.
“I am well, thank God, and I call for calm and restraint on the part of all for the good of Iraq”, wrote M. Kadhimi on Twitter shortly after this announcement.
“My residence was the target of a cowardly assault. Praise be to God, I am well, as well as those who work with me ”he then said in a short video where he is seen sitting at a desk, wearing a white shirt. “Cowardly missiles and drones do not build nations”.
This attack was not immediately claimed. According to a security source, “Two bodyguards were injured”, without knowing the severity of their injuries. Earlier, two security sources told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that only one « roquette » had fallen on Mustafa Al-Kadhimi’s house in the Green Zone, an ultra-protected perimeter located in the heart of the Iraqi capital and which also houses the American embassy and government buildings.
In photos distributed by his office, we could see material damage: a wooden door was lying, rubble was strewn on the floor and exterior stairs were damaged.
United States offers assistance
The United States quickly condemned this attack, which is the first to target the residence of Mr. Kadhimi, in power since May 2020. “We are relieved to learn that the Prime Minister is unharmed. This apparent act of terrorism, which we strongly condemn, targeted the heart of the Iraqi state ”State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.
“We are in close contact with the Iraqi security forces responsible for upholding the sovereignty and independence of Iraq and have offered our assistance in the investigation of this attack”, he added.
After the attack, security forces were deployed in large numbers inside and around the green zone, according to a security source. The offensives are recurrent there and they often targeted, in the past, the American embassy. On October 31, three rockets fell in Mansour, a neighboring district, without causing any injuries.
Strong political tensions
The attack on Mr. Kadhimi comes at a time when Iraq is crossed by strong political tensions related to the early parliamentary elections of October 10.
Hachd Al-Chaabi, an influential coalition of former pro-Iran paramilitaries, vehemently contests the election results and accuses Mustafa Al-Kadhimi of “Complicity” in the ” fraud “ election which saw the rout of their political showcase, the Alliance of Conquest, during the legislative elections of October 10, according to preliminary results. Hachd Al-Chaabi supporters launched two sit-ins at two different entrances to the green zone in protest against the elections.
Clashes pitted several hundred demonstrators with security forces on Friday. According to a security source, a protester is dead, while a source within Hachd Al-Chaabi mentioned “Two deaths”.
Since the election, all parties have been negotiating behind the scenes the formation of parliamentary “blocs”, the formation of a government and, ultimately, the appointment of a prime minister. Mr. Kadhimi is not officially a candidate for his succession, but some politicians see him as a credible remedy in the event that no other personality emerges from the negotiations.
Awaiting the final legislative results
On Friday, Qais Al-Khazali, the leader of Assaïb Ahl Al-Haq, one of Hashd Al-Chaabi’s main pro-Iran groups, warned against “Any attempt by actors linked to the intelligence services to bombard the green zone and then accuse the resistance factions”, name given to themselves by pro-Iran, who are fiercely anti-American.
The Hachd is now integrated into the Iraqi state and some Iraqis accuse it of being Iran’s relay in their country. They blame him for the assassinations and kidnappings of anti-power activists who rose up in October 2019.
Despite its electoral rout, the Hachd will remain an important political force in Parliament, thanks to the game of alliances and the co-optation of independent elected representatives. Still according to the preliminary results, the Sadrist current led by the influential Shiite leader Moqtada Al-Sadr won first place in the legislative elections, with more than 70 seats out of the 329 in Parliament. The final results of the poll should be published within a few weeks.