Iran Government Probably Did Not Order Drone Strike On Iraqi Prime Minister: Report.
Iran likely did not greenlight the attack on Iraq’s prime minister, current and former US officials told NBC News.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi survived an alleged assassination attempt earlier this month. The prime minister said he survived the blasts from a drone strike, although several of his security guards were injured in the event.
“The rockets of treason will not shake one iota of the steadfastness and determination of the heroic security forces,” al-Kadhimi tweeted after the attack. “I am well and among my people. Thank god.”
General Frank McKenzie of the US Central Command earlier this week claimed the attack was carried out by Iranian-backed militias.
Iran, for its part, has denied its responsibility.
A senior US Defense Department official, as well as former officials, told NBC News that the attack was likely not sanctioned by Iran, adding that the Iranian government does not have much control over militias in the area.
“It is fair to say that Iran has not had as much control over these groups since Soleimani was assassinated,” said a defense official, according to NBC.
Iraqi officials told OkeyNews on November 8 that the attack was carried out by Iranian-backed Shiite militias, Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl al-Haq, who were upset after losing power in Iraq’s parliamentary elections last month. . The groups have claimed that the election was fraudulent, although no evidence has been provided to support this claim.
NBC reported that the drones used in the attack resemble those that had previously been used by Iranian-backed militias since July 2020, according to former officials and regional experts.
President BidenJoe Biden Federal Appeals Court Says Business Biden Vaccine Remains Mandate Why Democrats’ Prescription Drug Pricing Would Have Hurt Older People Tennessee Governor Signs Law Restricting Terms of COVID-19 MORE it condemned the attack on the prime minister shortly after it occurred on November 7 and ordered an investigation into the attack.
“I have instructed my national security team to offer all appropriate assistance to the Iraqi security forces as they investigate this attack and identify those responsible,” Biden said. “The United States strongly supports the government and people of Iraq in their fight to defend the sovereignty and independence of Iraq.”
Tensions have risen between Iran and the US and its allies in the Middle East in recent years, especially after the assassination of senior Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in January 2020.