Rocket attacks on ‘Green Zone’ in Iraq, Iraqi leaders divided after the Ira

Baghdad: There were Katyusha rocket attacks in the high-security Green Zone, in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. It is suspected that an Iran affiliated group from Iraq launched these attacks. The concerned group had threatened that we will replicate the Iranian attack on the US military base. But the influential Iraqi religious leader Muqtada Al-Sadr had appealed to all the groups in Iraq, to stay away from any military actions.

There were two to three rocket attacks in the high-security Green Zone, housing government offices and embassies of the foreign countries. One of the rockets crashed within 100 metres of the US embassy. Iraq police informed that there were no losses caused by the attack. But, in the view of three attacks in 24 hours, the security in the Green Zone has been beefed up.

No organisation has accepted the responsibility of the attacks. But a strong possibility of Iran affiliated Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), having carried out these attacks, is being predicted. The PMF had threatened that they would launch attacks similar to the Iranian attacks on the US military bases carried out on Tuesday in the night.

Last week, the United States killed PMF chief Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis, along with Qassem Soleimani. Expressing annoyance over this killing, PMF had threatened to shower rockets on the US bases. Therefore, it is being claimed that this Iran affiliated group is responsible for the Wednesday attacks.

These attacks were launched around midnight after US President issued a suggestive warning to Iran. The security sirens were blaring in the high-security area of Green Zone. But the Shiite leader in Iraq, Muqtada Al Sadr, has appealed to all the groups in Iraq, to exhibit restraint.

Sadr appealed ‘As the United States and Iran, both don’t want a war, Iraq is out of the war shadows. Therefore, Iraqi groups should exhibit restraint. Also, till the political, parliamentary and international options are not exhausted, the inciting groups should be kept quiet, or their organisations should be shut down.’

Meanwhile, Iraqi President Bahram Salih said that the US deployment in Iraq is Iraq’s internal matter. President Salih lashed out at Iran and the Iraqi leaders demanding US military withdrawal saying, Iran should not interfere in Iraqi internal matters. The sunny and Kurdish leaders in Iraq are supporting US military deployment. Therefore, two factions have been created in Iraq, one in favour and the other against the US military deployment and this could lead to a conflict.