Terrorist attacks on the rise in Baghdad as bombs target headquarters of two parties

The frequency of terrorist attacks in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, increased during the past 24 hours, through missile strikes targeting the Green Zone and two explosive devices targeting the headquarters of two parties.

Local Iraqi media reported on Friday, that two explosions targeted the headquarters of Al-Takadum Movement or "The Progress Party" headed by Muhammad al-Halbousi, Speaker of Parliament, and the second of the "Azm Movement" headed by Khamis al-Khanjar, in the center of the capital, Baghdad.

The two explosions were carried out by two explosive devices, the first targeting the headquarters of the Taqaddam movement in the Adhamiya area, causing only material damage to the movement's building, while the second targeting an office of the Azm Movement in the Yarmouk area, which also resulted in material damages only.

No group claimed responsibility and there was no comment from Halbousi or the Iraqi government immediately for the incident.

The attack on the two parties comes as the country is in the process of forming a new government following the October elections in which Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr was the biggest winner.

Iraq's newly elected parliament voted to reinstate Halbousi for his second term as speaker last Sunday but some rival parties opposed the move.

The Federal Supreme Court of Iraq suspended on Thursday the parliament speaker and his two deputies, days after they were elected to their post.

The ruling came after MPs Bassem Khashan and Mahmoud Daoud filed a complaint citing "legal and constitutional violations" in their election.

The parliament will therefore be suspended until the judiciary can examine the appeal and issue a final ruling in the case.

In another context, a rocket attack targeted the US embassy in the Green Zone, Baghdad on Thursday injuring a woman and a child.

One of these missiles fell inside the Elaf school in the same area, according to Iraq's state media

Iraq's President, Barham Salih, condemned the attack and said in a tweet, "Targeting diplomatic missions and endangering civilians is a criminal terrorist act and a blow to Iraq's interests and its international reputation."

"Such actions are condemned, and their timing is to obstruct the national constitutional entitlements by forming a government that we want capable of protecting sovereignty and the security of citizens," he affirmed.

Meanwhile the U.S. embassy said in a statement, "The U.S. Embassy compound was attacked this evening by terrorist groups seeking to undermine Iraq's security, sovereignty, and international relations."

"We have always said that these types of heinous attacks are an attack not only on diplomatic facilities but on the sovereignty of Iraq itself," the embassy added.

The attack is the latest in a series of rocket and drone attacks that have continuously targeted the American presence in Iraq. 

The US-led coalition formally ended its combat mission supporting Iraqi forces in the ongoing fight against the ISIS terrorist group last month. Some 2,500 troops will remain as the coalition shifts to an advisory mission to continue supporting Iraqi forces.

US officials have long accused Iran-backed militias of carrying out the frequent attacks.

The top US commander for the Middle East, Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, warned in an interview with The Associated Press last month that he expects increasing attacks on US and Iraqi personnel by Iranian-backed militias determined to get American forces out.



PUKmedia