Baghdad: Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi survived an assassination attempt with armed drones that targeted his residence early on Sunday and officials said he was unharmed. The attack was 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 seven of al-Kadhimi’s security guards were injured in the attack with two armed drones that occurred in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone area.
Cowardly act
I am fine and among my people. Thank God! Cowardly rocket and drone attacks don’t build homelands and don’t build a future. —Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Iraq Prime Minister
“I am fine and among my people. Thank God,” the Prime Minister tweeted shortly after the attack. He called for calm and restraint, “for the sake of Iraq”. He later appeared on television. “Cowardly rocket and drone attacks don’t build homelands and don’t build a future,” he said.
In a statement, the government said an explosives-laden drone tried to hit al-Kadhimi’s home. Residents of Baghdad heard the sound of an explosion followed by heavy gunfire from the direction of Green Zone, which houses foreign embassies and government offices.
The statement released by state-run media said security forces were “taking necessary measures in connection with this failed attempt”. There was no immediate claim for the attack. It comes amid a stand-off between security forces and pro-Iran Shiite militias whose supporters have been camped outside Green Zone for nearly a month after they rejected the results of Iraq’s parliamentary elections in which they lost around two-thirds of their seats.