US accuses Iran of attacking Iraqi PM
The U.S. Defense Department has accused a pro-Iranian group of being involved in a drone strike on the home of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazmi.
The residence of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazmi was hit by a drone on Sunday morning. Security officials and Iraqi armed groups claimed responsibility for the attack, but Reuters news agency quoted government sources as saying that the drones and explosives used in the attack were Iranian-made.
According to international media, Iraqi government officials believe that the drone strike on the Prime Minister's residence was the work of a pro-Iranian group. Iraqi security officials say the November 7 attack by Iraq's neighbor is unlikely to be backed up, but that it was carried out by one of the pro-Iranian groups operating inside Iraq.
The US Secretary of State, speaking to Iraqi President Barham Saleh by telephone, condemned the attack on Mustafa al-Kazmi's residence and called it a terrorist attack. According to a State Department statement, Blanken said the attack was also an attack on Iraq's sovereignty and stability.
It should be noted that political instability is on the rise in Iraq following allegations of fraud by some groups over the parliamentary elections and its aftermath, and then an explosive-laden drone attack on the residence of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazmi.
The main reason for the political tension is the defeat in the parliamentary elections by a coalition of so-called pro-Iranian political groups which has refused to recognize the election results.