Regional, international reactions to assassination attempt on Iraq PM

Iraq's neighbours and the US were quick to condemn the attack on Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi early on Sunday, which Iraqi security described as an "assassination attempt".

The attack in Baghdad's Green Zone early on Sunday was the first to target the residence of Kadhemi, who has been in power since May 2020.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the incident, which left two bodyguards wounded, according to a security source.

Gunfire sounded and smoke was seen rising from the Green Zone area after the strike.

Regional and international actors have issued statements condemning the attempted assassination.

The US

The United States, which has around 2,500 troops in the country, said it was "relieved to learn the Prime Minister was unharmed".

"This apparent act of terrorism, which we strongly condemn, was directed at the heart of the Iraqi state," State Department spokesman Ned Price said. 

The US had offered assistance to Iraqi security forces investigating the strike, he added in a statement.

Iran

Iran's top security official, Ali Shamkhani, condemned the attack on Kadhimi in Baghdad, calling it "a new sedition".

"The attempt ... is a new sedition that must be traced back to foreign think-tanks," he said on Twitter, without giving further details.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi's foreign ministry also condemned the "cowardly terrorist" act in a statement.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed Saudi Arabia’s strong condemnation of the cowardly terrorist act that targeted the Iraqi Prime Minister,” the statement said.

The Kingdom “affirms that it stands united by Iraq, its government, and its people in confronting all terrorists who are trying in vain to prevent Iraq from restoring its [role], consolidating its security and stability, and enhancing its prosperity and development,” the statement added.

Lebanon

Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun condemned the assassination attempt, saying it did not target Kadhimi alone.

"This was not [an] attempt on President Kadhimi alone, but an attempt to target Iraq’s stability, security and efforts towards national unity," Aoun's office said in a statement on Twitter.

Turkey

Istanbul said it condemned in the "strongest terms" the attack against Kadhimi's home.

"We hope that the perpetrators of this cowardly terror attack, which clearly aims to undermine the sovereignty and stability of Iraq, would be identified and held accountable before law as soon as possible," Turkey's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Turkey will continue to stand in solidarity with the Iraqi people and state in their fight against terrorism, irrespective of its origin," it added.

The attack on Kadhemi’s home came amid soaring political tensions over the results of October 10 elections.

Preliminary results of that poll saw the Conquest (Fatah) Alliance, the political arm of the pro-Iran multi-party Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network, suffer a substantial decline in its parliamentary seats. The group's supporters have denounced the outcome as "fraud."