By Qassim Abdul-Zahra
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The Associated Press
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi survived and was unharmed in the face of an assassination attempt with an armed drone that attacked his residence early Sunday, authorities said.
The attack represents a serious incident amid tensions that erupted in the wake of the Iranian-backed militias' refusal to accept the results of last month's parliamentary elections.
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Seven al-Kadhimi security guards were injured in the two-armed drone attack, which took place in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, two Iraqi officials told The Associated Press.
The officials requested anonymity because they were not authorized to make official statements.
"The rockets of treason will not undermine one iota of the steadfastness and determination of the heroic security forces," the prime minister said shortly after the attack in a tweet.
“I am well and among my people.
Thanks god".
In a statement, the government indicated that the drone tried to impact the residence of the prime minister, who it said was "unharmed and well."
Baghdad residents heard an explosion, followed by shots fired from the Green Zone, where Iraq's foreign embassies and government offices are located.
The statement released by the state press indicated that the failed assassination attempt against the prime minister was perpetrated with a "drone loaded with explosives with which an attempt was made to attack his residence in the Green Zone."
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"The security forces are taking the necessary measures in relation to this failed attempt," he said.
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The masterminds of the attack are unknown and no party has attributed it so far.
It took place amid a dispute between security forces and pro-Iranian Shiite paramilitary groups whose supporters have camped outside the Green Zone for nearly a month after they rejected the results of Iraqi parliamentary elections in which they were the big losers.
The protests took a deadly turn on Friday when protesters marched into the Green Zone.
There was an exchange of fire in which a protester lost his life.
Dozens of elements of the security forces were injured.
Al-Khadimi ordered an investigation to determine what caused the clashes and who violated the order not to open fire.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi poses in his office during an interview in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, July 23, 2021. Khalid Mohammed / AP
The United States, the United Nations Security Council and other parties have praised the October 10 elections, conducted for the most part without acts of violence and without major technical problems.
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After the elections, sympathizers of the paramilitary groups set up tents near the Green Zone, rejected the election results and threatened to stage acts of violence if their demand for a vote recount was not met.
Unfounded claims of voter fraud marred the vote.
The crisis with sympathizers of the paramilitary groups also increased tensions between rival Shiite factions that could be reflected in the streets and jeopardize the new relative stability in Iraq.
The elections took place months ahead of schedule due to mass protests in late 2019, in which tens of thousands of people in Baghdad and the predominantly Shiite southern provinces demonstrated against endemic corruption, poor services and Unemployment.
They also protested against the strong meddling of neighboring Iran in the internal affairs of Iraq through paramilitary groups that have the support of Tehran.
