Iraqi PM orders security changes after Baghdad bombing

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraq’s prime minister, in an emergency meeting after twin suicide bombings killed dozens of people in Baghdad on Thursday, ordered changes to the security and intelligence forces. 

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who is also commander-in-chief of the armed forces, headed an emergency meeting at the Baghdad Operations Command headquarters, shortly after a double suicide bombing in the capital's downtown. 

According to an official statement from his office, Kadhimi ordered changes in the factions of the security and intelligence services responsible for security in the al-Tayaran area of Baghdad where the bombings occurred. The statement did not provide more detail. At least 32 people have been confirmed killed and 110 injured after two suicide bombers attacked a market on Thursday morning.

Five senior officials were dismissed or moved, according to details later tweeted by Kadhimi’s spokesperson Yehia Rasool.  

The Director of Intelligence and Security for Baghdad Operations, Major General Bassem Majeed, was dismissed from his post. 

Federal Police Commander Lt. Gen. Jaafar al-Battat was dismissed and replaced by Lt. Gen. Raed Shaker Jawdat.

Lt. Gen Amer Saddam, the Interior Minister’s Undersecretary for Intelligence Affairs, was dismissed and Lt. Gen Ahmed Abu Ragheef was assigned to replace him. 

The Director General of Intelligence and Combating Terrorism at the Ministry of Interior, within the Falcons Cell, Abdul Karim Abd Fadel (also known as Abu Ali al-Basri) was removed from his post and his duties were handed to the Deputy Head of the National Security Service Hamid Al-Shatri.

The commander of Baghdad operations, Lt. Gen Qais al-Muhammadawi, was transferred to the Ministry of Defense and Maj. Gen. Ahmed Salim was assigned to replace him. 

The prime minister’s statement pointed out the importance of "making these changes away from pressures and influences in security procedures."

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the supreme Shiite authority in Iraq, condemned the "savage" bombing, describing it as "horrible, and it hurts every person of conscience."

Iraqi President Barham Salih also condemned the double suicide bombing as a "rogue attempt" to destabilize the country, which is in the midst of economic and political turmoil.
 
Parliament Speaker Mohammad al-Halbousi tweeted that "what happened in Baghdad indicates a dangerous situation, as it is an attempt to destabilize societal security."

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Suicide bombings were common in Baghdad during sectarian violence that followed the US-led invasion in 2003 and were a frequent method of used by the Islamic State (ISIS), which still has sleeper cells across the country. 

An Interior Ministry spokesperson, Major General Tahsin Al-Khafaji, said on al-Iraqiya TV that "the bombings today bear the imprint of ISIS."

Kadhimi also named ISIS in tweets about the incident: "Our response to those who shed innocent Iraqi blood will be bold and earth-shattering, and the evil leaders of Daesh [ISIS] will face a force to be reckoned with."

After seizing swathes of the country in the summer of 2014, the terror group was announced territorially defeated in Iraq in 2017, but continues to launch attacks against both civilians and members of the security forces, particularly in Iraq's northern provinces and territory disputed between Baghdad and Erbil.

Iraq is also facing significant economic and political challenges as it battles security threats from ISIS and a variety of militia groups.

The Kurdish leadership has offered its assistance. The Presidency of the Kurdistan Region "strongly" condemned the "terrorist attack" and expressed readiness to provide medical assistance in the Region for the injured.

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