Officials accuse Iran-backed militia of staging drone attack on Iraqi PM
No group has claimed responsibility for the drones attack launched at Prime Minister Mustafa al Kadhimi's Baghdad residence, where he escaped unhurt.
The Iran-backed groups, which like patron Iran are Shi'ite, regard Kadhimi as both Sadr's man and friendly towards Tehran's arch-foe the United States.
A drone attack that targeted the Iraqi prime minister on Sunday was carried out by at least one Iran-backed militia, Iraqi security officials and militia sources said, weeks after pro-Iran groups were routed in elections they say were rigged.
But neighbouring Iran is unlikely to have sanctioned the attack as Tehran is keen to avoid a spiral of violence on its western border, the sources said.
Prime Minister Mustafa al Kadhimi escaped unhurt when three drones carrying explosives were launched at his residence in Baghdad.
The incident whipped up tensions in Iraq, where powerful Iran-backed paramilitaries are disputing the result of a general election last month that dealt them a crushing defeat at the polls and greatly reduced their strength in parliament.
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"Tehran had knowledge about the attack"
Two regional officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said Tehran had knowledge about the attack before it was carried out, but that Iranian authorities had not ordered it.
Militia sources said the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards overseas Quds Force travelled to Iraq on Sunday after the attack to meet paramilitary leaders and urge them to avoid any further escalation of violence.
Two Iraqi security officials, speaking to Reuters on Monday on condition of anonymity, said the Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl al-Haq groups carried out the attack in tandem.
A militia source said that Kataib Hezbollah was involved and that he could not confirm the role of Asaib.
Many Iraqis fear that tension among the main Shia Muslim groups that dominate government and most state institutions, and also boast paramilitary branches, could spiral into broad civil conflict if further such incidents occur.
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