SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi formed a committee to investigate recent rocket and explosion attacks on diplomatic missions and convoys for the U.S.-led Coalition forces in Iraq, according to a communique.
The prime minister ordered in a communique dated October 3 the formation of a committee including security commanders and officers to investigate “violations that target Iraq’s security, prestige, reputation and international obligations”.
The committee led by Iraq’s national security advisor Qassem al-Araji includes head of Hashid al-Shaabi Falih al-Fayyadh, head of national security council Abdulghani Assadi and army’s chief of staff Abdulamir Yarallah as well as a number of other security officers.
The committee has to complete its investigation within 30 days and provide the premier with results of the investigation, the communique said.
In recent weeks rocket attacks near the embassy have increased and roadside bombs targeted convoys carrying equipment to the U.S.-led military coalition. One roadside attack hit a British convoy in Baghdad, the first of its kind against Western diplomats in Iraq for years.
On Sept. 28, three children and two women were killed when two militia rockets hit a family home, the Iraqi military said. Police sources said Baghdad airport was the intended target.
Washington blames such attacks on Iranian-backed militia groups. Iran has not directly commented on the incidents but groups believed to be connected to Iran-aligned militias have claimed responsibility for some attacks.
Any move by the United States to reduce its diplomatic presence in a country where it has thousands of troops would be seen in the region as an escalation of its confrontation with Iran, which Washington blames for missile and bomb attacks.
