SW News:

The head of the Chaldean Catholic Church Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako has expressed deep concern over the assassination attempt targeting Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. On Saturday, November 6, a drone carrying explosives hit the residence of the Prime Minister, wounding six bodyguards in the explosion. However, al-Kadhimi escaped unscathed from the terrorist attack. 

Cardinal Sako said that the drone attack was an attempt to hamper the work of the Prime Minister to create a strong Iraq “based on the law, citizenship, order, and justice.” The patriarch also pointed out that, "It is not yet known who is behind this, but it is clear that the goal was to destabilize [the country], sow confusion, and interrupt the work started by the prime minister, who wants to build an Iraq that is not isolated.” 

The Chaldean top prelate ruled out the possibility of an attack by the Islamic State (IS) group. However, he said that there were similar drone attacks against the Erbil hospital in Iraqi Kurdistan and the US Embassy in Baghdad. The patriarch said he heard the explosion clearly because his home was not very far from the Green Zone. 

After his narrow escape, al-Kadhimi appeared in a video that showed him having a discussion with top security officials. The Prime Minister’s office issued a statement in which al-Kadhimi flayed the terrorist attack by armed groups. 

On the day of the attack, security forces shot down two out of three drones, but the third drone hit the Prime Minister’s residence in central Baghdad. So far, no organization has claimed responsibility for the attack, which has been condemned by Iraqi President Barham Salih, radical Iraqi Shia leader Moqtada al-Sadr, the UN, the US, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. 

Ever since the new government was elected, certain groups have opposed the newly elected administration and stressed that the voting was rigged. The Chaldean Catholic Church voiced concern over the tensions arising in the country and has appealed for a stronger government to end the violence and chaos.