SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Eight Sunni civilians were killed by a group of Shia gunmen in an apparent revenge attack in Diyala province on Wednesday, according to a police officer.
Islamic State (ISIS) militants attacked the predominantly Shia village of al-Rashad in Diyala province on Tuesday night, killing at least 11 people, according to the Iraqi military.
“Hundreds of gunmen from the Bani Tamim [Shia] tribe attacked the Sunni village of al-Imam in response to Tuesday’s attack,” Anadolu Agency cited the police officer as saying.
The officer had requested anonymity because he was not authorized to brief to media, Anadolu said.
The police officer told Anadolu that a number of houses and farmlands were set on fire during the attack.
Minister of Interior Osman al-Ghanmi arrived in Diyala province on Thursday, saying the security services had launched an investigation into the attack.
UNAMI and the EU delegation to Iraq on Wednesday condemned the attacks on civilians.
The U.N. mission called on the authorities to fully investigate the attacks and exert every effort to ensure they safety and security of all citizens.
“To fight continued threats of terrorism and violence that undermine Iraq’s stability, national unity is key. Those who seek to harm and divide cannot do so if Iraqis stand together as one,” it said.
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said the crime would not go “unpunished” and that such “heinous crimes” strengthen the government’s determination to defeat the militants.
Iraqi President Barham Salih said the attack was a “despicable attempt” to destabilize the country.
Separately, Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi called on the political forces to “give priority to Iraq’s interests” following the attack.
In 2017 Baghdad announced victory over Islamic State (ISIS), and attacks in Iraqi cities have since become much rarer, although troops continue to fight ISIS sleeper cells in mountainous and desert areas.
The militants still mount deadly operations, mostly at night and in remote areas.
