[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. President Joe Biden strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the residence of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi and reiterated America's support for the Iraqi government. As suspicions grow that the pro-Iran faction in Iraq, the Fatah Alliance, is the main force behind this terror, concerns are rising that it could negatively impact the restoration talks of the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) scheduled to begin at the end of this month.
On the 7th (local time), President Biden stated in a press release, "Those responsible for this terrorist attack will be held accountable," and "I strongly condemn those who use violence to undermine Iraq's democratic process." He added, "I have instructed the security team to provide appropriate support regarding the ongoing investigation by Iraqi authorities into this attack," emphasizing, "The United States stands firmly with the Iraqi people and government."
Following President Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also expressed his support for the Iraqi government in a statement on the same day, saying, "The United Kingdom stands with the Iraqi people and supports Iraq's efforts to form an essential government for long-term stability."
Earlier that day, a drone terror attack occurred on Prime Minister Al-Kadhimi's residence located in the Green Zone of Baghdad, Iraq. Three drones loaded with explosives attacked the residence but were shot down by security guards. The attack caused partial collapse of the residence and injured seven security personnel. Prime Minister Al-Kadhimi was reported to be unharmed.
While no organization has yet claimed responsibility or involvement in the attack, suspicions have arisen that the Fatah Alliance, a pro-Iran faction in Iraq known to have suffered a defeat in last month's general election, is behind it.
According to Al Jazeera, preliminary results announced earlier by the Iraqi Election Commission showed that the Fatah Alliance's seats dropped significantly from 48 to 14. Subsequently, allegations of election fraud have been raised mainly by Islamic Shia factions supporting the Fatah Alliance, leading to protests rejecting the election results.
In particular, the Fatah Alliance is linked to the pro-Iran Shia militias in Iraq (Hashd al-Shaabi, PMF), fueling speculation that the Iranian government was deeply involved in this terror attack. With the Iran nuclear deal restoration talks scheduled for the 29th, there are concerns about worsening relations with the United States.
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