In Iraq, PM targets “failed assassination attempt” – The HuffPost

via Associated Press

INTERNATIONAL – The First Iraqi Mustafa al-Kazimi “was not injured” during a “failed assassination attempt” committed on the night of Saturday to Sunday by means of a “Trapped drone” who targeted his residence in the Green Zone in Baghdad, his office said.

“A drone trapped tried to target the residence ”of Kazimi who“ was not injured ”in this“ attempt assassination failure, ”said its services in a statement.

Earlier, two security sources told AFP that a “rocket” hit his house as supporters of pro-Iran groups lead two sit-ins to protest against election results early legislative elections of October 10. “I am fine, thank God, and I call for calm and restraint on the part of all for the good of Iraq,” Kazimi wrote on Twitter in the evening.

After the attack, security forces were deployed in large numbers inside and around the Green Zone, according to a security source. Rocket attacks against the Green Zone are recurrent. On October 31, three rockets fell in Mansour, an adjoining neighborhood, without injuring anyone.

The United States condemned the attack on Saturday, denouncing an “apparent act of terrorism”. “We are relieved to learn that the Prime Minister is unharmed. This apparent act of terrorism, which we strongly condemn, was aimed at the heart of the Iraqi state, ”the State Department spokesman said in a statement.

Contested results

Sunday’s attack on Kazimi, who has been in power since May 2020, comes as Iraq is crossed by strong political tensions linked to the early parliamentary elections on October 10.

Hachd al-Chaabi, an influential coalition of former pro-Iran paramilitaries, vehemently contests the election results. Its political showcase, the Conquest Alliance, has seen its number of seats in parliament shrink, preliminary results show.

Clashes pitted several hundred Hashd supporters with security forces near the Green Zone on Friday. According to a security source, a protester died, while a source within Hachd al-Chaabi spoke of “two dead”.

Hachd al-Chaabi supporters launched two sit-ins at two different entrances to the Green Zone in protest against the elections, which the Hachd leadership describes as “fraud” and “swindle”. 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 Sadr won first place in the legislative elections, with more than 70 seats out of the 329 in Parliament. The final election results should be published within a few weeks.

See also on The HuffPost: Macron from Iraq warns that Islamic State “remains a threat”