Iraq PM Mustafa al-Kadhimi unharmed after ‘failed assassination attempt’ by drone; calls for ‘calm’ after attack

A drone laden with explosives targeted the residence of Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi in Baghdad early on Sunday.

Key Highlights

• Iraq’s PM Mustafa al-Kadhimi on early Sunday survived an assassination attempt

• Kadhimi was unharmed in the attack and is in good health, the military said

• I call for calm and restraint from everyone, for the sake of Iraq, he said in a tweet

New Delhi: Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi has survived an assassination attempt after a drone attack on his official residence Sunday night, his office said.

A drone tried to target the residence of the premier, who was not injured, his office said in a statement.

In a tweet, the Iraqi PM said that the “rockets of treachery” will not discourage the believers.

“The steadfastness and insistence of our heroic security forces will not falter as they work to preserve the security of the people, achieve justice and enforce the law. I am fine, praise be to God, among my people, and I call for calm and restraint from everyone, for the sake of Iraq,” he said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack

Western diplomats based in the Green Zone, which houses government buildings and foreign embassies, said they heard explosions and gunfire in the area, reported Reuters. 

As of now, no group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

This development comes at a time when supporters of heavily armed pro-Iran groups staged demonstrations near the Green Zone protesting against the results of general elections held on October 10.

This is not the first time a drone has been used to target the head of the state.

In 2019, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro survived an assassination attempt involving explosive drones. The attack took place while he was speaking at a military event in Caracas.

The President blamed Colombia for the attack but Bogota called his accusations “baseless”.

Seven soldiers were injured in the attack and many people were later arrested.

Threat from drones capable of delivering IEDs evolving 

According to a report titled ‘Drones and the IED threat’ by Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), the threat from drones capable of delivering IEDs is evolving and the operating environment in Syria and Iraq will not only allow users to learn new lessons rapidly but also to test new methods of attack.

The report states that with the arrival of larger drones or more powerful motors, the IED payloads will increase in size which will make it more attractive to the user for delivering larger payloads.