Drones which targeted prime minister Al-Kadhimi of Iraq last week left US embassy minutes before the attack. An Iraqi security source provided details and evidence that clarifies the hows and whys of the attack.
New details about an attempt to assassinate the Iraqi prime minister reveals new dimensions about the incident. Mustafa Al-Kadhimi survived the attack but disputes over the perpetrators linger on.
According to primary reports, three drones head for the green zone in Baghdad where hosts most political headquarters and offices. Among them, one managed to enter the zone and target Al-Kadhimi’s residence with explosives. While some security guards suffered injuries, the prime minister survived the threat.
One week after the incident, a security source inside Iraq revealed some new information about it. The Iraqi official, preferring to remain anonymous, explained that two drones took off from US embassy last Sunday. They attacked Al-Kadhimi residence after a short while on the same day. The American drones returned to the embassy after accomplishing the mission.
According to the same source, the data obtained from the CCTV cameras around the US embassy confirms the reports. US embassy hosts loads of the country’s unmanned aerial vehicles designed to guard the American political figures in critical conditions.
The US embassy in Iraq is the largest in the world in an area surpassing the size of Vatican. The facility includes specific welfare and security equipment for more than 5500 American national currently residing there.
The two drones curiously succeeded on crossing the green zone military protection before attacking prime minister residence. Baghdad green zone is under protection against any electronic potential threat with heavy artilleries.
The US embassies have a history of similar plots in Iraq. Political condition of the country explains the underlying motivation behind the recent attack.
US Embassy in Iraq
The US opened the new embassy in 2008 outside the green zone under heavy military protection. Former US embassy, which started working in 2003, located within the Green zone.
The 104-acre embassy in Baghdad is far beyond a mere diplomatic center. It includes 6 apartment buildings for the staff, water and waste treatment facilities, and a power station. Besides, it has two “major diplomatic office buildings”, a gym, cinema, several tennis courts and an Olympic-size swimming pool.
The size, dimensions, and security reservoir of the new US embassy clearly shows it has trans-political mission in Iraq. Multiple evidences have shown the trace of US embassy in various developments in the country. Among all, it had serious involvement in decision-making processes in Iraqi administration and containing protests against US presence in Iraq.
The embassy has been the target of recurrent attacks by resistance groups inside Iraq. Trump administrations based the assassination of Iranian General Soleimani on the claim that he planned to target the US embassy.
The centering of the confrontation between the two sides on the US embassy indicates its decisive role in Iraq developments. On one side, the US is sensitive over the integrity and security of the embassy. On the other side, Anti-US groups make the embassy as one of their first targets.
The recent attack seems to have motivations to undermine anti-American groups in Iraq. Following the controversial parliamentary elections last month, these groups protested a potential US involvement and called for a recount. In recent weeks, these voices started to reinforce with massive protests across the country.
A US attack against the prime minister has meant to foil these movements. The target, as such, was not the prime minister, but the protesters. They were subject to suppression for an incident they had no involvement in.
