SULAIMANI (ESTA) — France and Britain on Sunday condemned a drone attack that targeted the residence of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi in Baghdad.
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone with Kadhimi following the attack, affirming his “condemnation of the terrorist incident against the prime minister”, Kadhimi’s office said in a tweet.
Kadhimi survived the assassination attempt carried out by a drone laden with explosives that targeted his residence in Baghdad early on Sunday.
Iraqi security media cell said three drones targeted the prime minister’s residence. The security forces managed to shoot down two drones, but the third hit Kadhimi’s house.
The Iraqi military said Kadhimi escaped unhurt but several members of his personnel protection were injured.
“France condemns in the strongest terms the attempted assassination of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi at his home on Sunday morning,” the French foreign ministry said in a separate statement.
“France fully supports the democratic process in Iraq, recently marked by the satisfactory organization of legislative elections by the Iraqi government,” it added.
It further said France “rejects in this context any form of destabilization of the country, violence and intimidation” adding that it “stands alongside the Iraqi authorities and people and calls for restraint.”
Separately, British foreign minister Liz Truss condemned the attack, saying the UK is relieved that Kadhimi is safe and well.
“We stand with the Iraqi government, security forces and people in their rejection of political violence and strongly support the Prime Minister’s call for calm and restraint,” Russ said in a statement.
In a statement, the Turkish foreign ministry said “we condemn the terrorist attack … against the residence of Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi in the strongest terms”.
“We hope that the perpetrators of this cowardly terror attack, which clearly aims to undermine the sovereignty and stability of Iraq, would be identified and held accountable before law as soon as possible,” it added.
Arab countries, Iran, Egypt and Lebanon also denounced the drone attack on Kadhimi’s residence in Baghdad.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack on Kadhimi’s residence in Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone, which houses government buildings and foreign embassies.
It was the fourth attempted assassination against the premier. In July, Kadhimi said in an interview with al-Hadath channel that he had survived three assassination attempts since he took office last year.
Sunday’s attack came after protests in the Iraqi capital over the result of a general election last month turned violent.
The groups leading protests and complaints about the result of the Oct. 10 vote are heavily-armed Iran-backed militias which lost much of their parliamentary power in the election. They have alleged voting and vote-counting irregularities.
Supporters of Iran-aligned militia groups which have grown their power in parliament and government in recent years have protested the results of the October election.
Protests turned deadly on Friday when the demonstrators tried to enter the Green Zone. Security forces used tear gas and live ammunition. There was an exchange of fire in which one protester affiliated with the militias was killed. Dozens of security forces were injured. Khadimi ordered an investigation to determine what sparked the clashes and who violated orders not to open fire.
Some of the leaders of the most powerful militia factions loyal to Iran openly blamed Kadhimi for Friday’s clashes and the protester’s death.
“The blood of martyrs is to hold you accountable,” said Qais al-Khazali, leader of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia, addressing Kadhimi at a funeral held for the protester on Saturday, according to AP.
“The protesters only had one demand against fraud in elections. Responding like this [with live fire] means you are the first responsible for this fraud.”
Kadhimi, 54, was Iraq’s former intelligence chief before becoming prime minister in May last year. He is considered by the militias to be close to the U.S., and has tried to balance between Iraq’s alliances with both the U.S. and Iran.
*This story was updated at 02:24 p.m. EBL time
