SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Turkey condemned attacks targeted Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone and headquarters of the political parties in the Iraqi capital last week.
“We are concerned by and condemn the attacks, which targeted various political party offices and the Green Zone, where foreign missions are located,” Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.
Several rockets fired at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Thursday, wounding a woman and a child. One of the rockets fell in a school, according to the Iraqi military.
A serious of attacks this month, which the United States blames on Iran-backed militia groups, have targeted bases or installations hosting U.S. military and diplomatic personnel.
The Iran-aligned militia have in previous years carried out dozens of similar attacks, mostly causing little harm, but the attacks have become more sophisticated in the past year including with the use of fixed-wing and multi-rotor drones.
Separately, explosions hit headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Taqqadum Party led by newly-elected parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi and Azm Party headed by Sunni politician Khamis al-Khanjar on Thursday and Friday.
No group claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Iraq’s parliament, newly elected after an October 10 general election in which the powerful Shia Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr was the biggest winner, voted to reinstate Halbousi for his second term as speaker on December 9.
Shia parties aligned with Iran and which rival Sadr, opposed the selection of Halbousi.
“Timely conclusion of the government formation efforts on the basis of consensus is of great importance in order to ensure lasting peace and stability in our neighbor Iraq,” the Turkish foreign ministry said.
“We advise restraint to all the parties involved in this critical phase,” it added.
