A militia source said that Kataib Hezbollah was involved and that he could not confirm the role of Asaib.
Neither group commented for the record.
INTRA-SHI’ITE TENSIONS
The main winner from the election, Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, is a rival of the Iran-backed groups who, unlike them, preaches Iraqi nationalism and opposes all foreign interference, including American and Iranian.
Malik said the drone strike indicated that the Iran-backed militias are positioning themselves in opposition to Sadr, who also boasts a militia – a scenario that would hurt Iran’s influence and therefore would likely be opposed by Tehran.
“I don’t think Iran wants a Shi’ite-Shi’ite civil war. It would weaken its position in Iraq and allow other groups to grow stronger,” he said.
Many Iran-aligned militias have watched Sadr’s political rise with concern, fearing he may strike a deal with Kadhimi and moderate Shi’ites allies, and even minority Sunni Muslims and Kurds, that would freeze them out of power.
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.
Iran-backed militias have led cries of fraud in the Oct. 10 election but offered no evidence. Since then their supporters have staged weeks of protests near Iraqi government buildings.
MADE IN IRAN
One of the Iraqi security officials said the drones used were of the “quadcopter” type and that each was carrying one projectile containing high explosives capable of damaging buildings and armoured vehicles.
The official added that these were the same type of Iranian-made drones and explosives used in attacks this year on U.S. forces in Iraq, which Washington blames on Iran-aligned militias including Kataib Hezbollah.
The United States last month targeted Iran’s drone programme with new sanctions, saying Tehran’s elite Revolutionary Guards had deployed drones against U.S. forces, Washington’s regional allies and international shipping.
Bron: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-backed-militia-behind-attack-iraqi-pm-sources-2021-11-08/
