Its services speak of a “Failed assassination attempt”. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazimi “Was not injured” during an attack on the night of Saturday 5 to Sunday 6 November by means of a “Trapped drone” who targeted his residence in the Green Zone in Baghdad, his office said.
“I am well, thank God, and I call for calm and restraint on the part of all for the good of Iraq”, wrote M. Kazimi on Twitter shortly after this announcement.
This attack was not immediately claimed and it was not known whether it had caused any injuries, as well as the extent of the material damage. A little earlier, two security sources told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that a “Arugula” had fallen on the house of Mustafa Al-Kazimi in the green zone, an ultra-protected perimeter located in the heart of the Iraqi capital and which also houses the American embassy and government buildings.
After the attack, security forces were deployed in large numbers inside and around the green zone, according to a security source. Rocket attacks are recurrent there. On October 31, three rockets fell in Mansour, an adjoining neighborhood, without injuring anyone.
Strong political tensions
Sunday’s attack on Kazimi, who has been in power since May 2020, comes as Iraq is riddled with strong political tensions linked to the early parliamentary elections of 10 October.
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 shrink, preliminary results show.
Clashes pitted several hundred Hashd supporters with 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”.
Hashd Al-Chaabi supporters launched two sit-ins at two different entrances to the green zone in protest against the elections, which the Hachd leadership describes as “Fraud” and D’“Scam”.
Despite its electoral rout, the Hachd will remain an important political force in Parliament, thanks to the game of alliances and the co-optation of independent elected representatives.
Still according to the preliminary results, the Sadrist current led by the influential Shiite leader Moqtada Al-Sadr won first place in the legislative elections, with more than 70 seats out of the 329 in Parliament. The final results of the ballot are expected to be published within a few weeks.