Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazimi called for "
calm
" after escaping unscathed from a "
failed assassination attempt
" on the night of Saturday 6 to Sunday 7 November by means of a "
trapped drone
" which targeted his residence in Baghdad, a further escalation in the crisis in Iraq.
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The United States immediately condemned an "
apparent act of terrorism
" against "
the heart of the Iraqi state
".
This attack is the first to target the residence of Moustafa al-Kazimi, in power since May 2020. It comes as the parties are negotiating to form parliamentary coalitions on the basis of the preliminary results of the October 10 poll.
The Conquest Alliance, the political showcase of Hachd al-Chaabi, an influential coalition of former pro-Iran paramilitaries, saw its number of seats melt at the end of the vote and denounce an
electoral
“
fraud
”.
Some Hachd supporters accuse Kazimi of being an “
accomplice
” in this “
swindle
”.
The attack on Mustafa al-Kazimi's residence, located in the Green Zone, was not immediately claimed.
According to a security source, "
two bodyguards were injured
", without knowing the seriousness of their injuries.
Call for calm
On Twitter, Mustafa al-Kazimi called for "
calm and restraint on the part of all for the good of Iraq
".
“
My residence was the target of a cowardly assault.
Praise be to God, I am fine and 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 don't build nations
."
Read also Iraq: from Erbil to Sinjar, the difficult return of the displaced from the war against Daesh
According to his office, this “
failed assassination attempt
” was carried out using “
a trapped drone
”.
Two security sources told AFP that a "
rocket
" fell on the house of Moustafa al-Kazimi in the Green Zone, an ultra-protected perimeter located in the heart of the Iraqi capital which 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. “
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 told Washington.
"
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 their investigation into 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.
Offensives against the Green Zone are recurrent and have often targeted the American Embassy in the past.
Election rout
The attack of Sunday, November 7 comes at a time when Iraq is crossed by strong political tensions linked to the early parliamentary elections of October 10.
Hachd al-Chaabi, an influential coalition of former pro-Iran paramilitaries, vehemently challenges the election results.
Its political showcase, the Conquest Alliance, has seen its number of seats in parliament crumble, preliminary results show.
Read also Iraq: pro-Iran retreat in legislative elections
Hashd al-Chaabi supporters launched two sit-ins at two different entrances to the Green Zone in protest against the elections.
And clashes pitted several hundred of them with the 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 deaths
”.
On Friday November 5, Qaïs al-Khazali, the leader of Assaïb Ahl al-Haq, one of the main pro-Iran groups of Hachd al-Chaabi, warned against "
any attempt by actors linked to the intelligence services to bombard the Green Zone and then blame the resistance factions
, ”the 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 attribute to him the responsibility for the assassinations and kidnappings of anti-power activists who rose up in October 2019. Despite its electoral rout during the legislative elections, the Hachd will remain an important political force in Parliament, thanks to the game of alliances and the co-optation of elected independent representatives.
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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 results of the poll should be published within a few weeks.
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