Iraq: second attack on American interests in 24 hours

A rocket landed in the night Monday to Tuesday near Baghdad airport, where US soldiers are stationed, the second such attack in 24 hours against American interests, an official told AFP. Iraqi security services. These shots are usually attributed to pro-Iranians but have never been claimed by known factions. They resume when on Sunday numerous times Baghdad was rocked by heavy explosions.

These were tests of C-RAM, a device designed to intercept rockets, now installed near the American embassy in Baghdad, targeted last night by a rocket, according to a high-ranking Iraqi. Launch pads and rockets aimed at a base housing American soldiers north of Baghdad were also seized during the attack on the embassy.

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These new attacks are seen as a challenge to the government of Mustafa al-Kazimi, who passes for being close to Washington, a great enemy of Tehran, and seems to want to give pawns to the United States in the approach of a voyage across the Atlantic from Prime Minister. However, on the night of June 25-26, the authorities had won a round: the elite counterterrorism units had arrested fourteen men, members of Hezbollah's brigades, the most radical pro-Iran faction in the country, possession of several rocket launching ramps. But four days later, they were all released by a judge who felt "lack of evidence" , with the exception of one, "directly accused" according to a government official.

Authorities side, the authorities assure, unanimous, that to carry out such a raid is already in itself a success, whereas 35 attacks with rocket against diplomats or American soldiers - of which some deadly - have already taken place and that they did not have never led to arrests or even searches under the previous government, of Adel Abdel Mahdi. Immediately, the American secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, welcomed "a step in the right direction" which he said "applaud" .

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But opposite, pro-Iran, Hezbollah brigades at the head, maintain their anti-American position, considered by these factions as "occupiers" in Iraq. During their four days of detention of their men, the Hezbollah brigades multiplied the threats, targeting in particular Moustafa al-Kazimi, whom they have already accused for months of being "accomplice" in the assassination in January by Washington of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and his Iraqi lieutenant at Baghdad airport. They say today that they are going to prosecute him for " kidnapping" their men and, in a show of force that toured social networks, members of this faction trampled on photos of Mustafa al-Kazimi while burning American flags.