Iraq
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi pictured during a press conference in Baghdad on August 28, 2021. Photo: Eliot Blondet/pool/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said he was unhurt after an assassination attempt was made on him at his residence in Baghdad early Sunday morning.
In a message saying he was well, Kadhimi called for “calm and restraint from everyone, for the sake of Iraq.”
Kadhimi’s residence in Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone was attacked with an explosive-laden drone in a “failed assassination attempt,” the Iraqi military’s Security Media Cell stated, adding that the prime minister is “in good health” and security forces are taking “necessary measures.”
No one has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which came during unrest following last month’s parliamentary election. On Friday, 125 people were injured and an unconfirmed number were killed when supporters of political parties affiliated with pro-Iran militia groups of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, Hashd al-Shaabi in Arabic) stormed the Green Zone and clashed with security forces. They had been staging a sit-in in central Baghdad for days contesting the election results. Hashd-affiliated parties like the Fatih Alliance lost seats in the vote.
Iraqi President Barham Salih condemned the “terrorist attack” against Kadhimi, saying it is a “dangerous transgression and a heinous crime against Iraq.”
He called for unity to “confront the evil men who are stalking the security of this country and the safety of its people. We cannot accept that Iraq will be dragged into chaos and a coup against its constitutional system.”
Head of the Sadr Movement Muqtada al-Sadr and President of Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani both called the attack on Kadhimi “terrorism.” Sadr said the security forces need to take charge. Barzani said the attack “portends dire consequences” and called for calm.
The UN mission in Iraq also called for calm, stating, “Terrorism, violence and unlawful acts must not be allowed to undermine Iraq’s stability and derail its democratic process.”
The United States also condemned the attack. “This apparent act of terrorism, which we strongly condemn, was directed at the heart of the Iraqi state,” read a statement from State Department spokesperson Ned Price. The US has offered assistance and is “in close touch with the Iraqi security forces charged with upholding Iraq’s sovereignty and independence,” he added.
The US-led coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS), condemned the attack, tweeting they are "relieved" Kadhimi was not hurt and that the alliance stands with Iraq.
Updated at 3:13 pm
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