Iraqi PM says govt. knows perpetrators of attack on his residence

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi says his government is well aware of the identities of the perpetrators of an earlier attack on his residence in the capital Baghdad, from which he escaped unharmed.

"There are some, who are seeking to damage Iraq's security," Kadhimi said on Sunday during an extraordinary cabinet meeting, the country's al-Sumaria news channel reported.

"We will bring prosecution against those who perpetrated yesterday's crime," he added, referring to the attack against his residence in Baghdad's heavily-fortified Green Zone.

"We know them well and will expose them," said the premier.

The attack, which reportedly involved explosive-laden drones, came two days after clashes at the entrance of the Green Zone during protests against the results of the country's October 10 general elections.

The clashes reportedly led to the death of several people and injured scores of others.

Various media outlets have, meanwhile, reported that the government has ordered the military to intensify the security situation in the capital following the recent incidents.

Video footage from the city showed dozens of tanks and armored vehicles roaming the streets of the city amid receding police presence.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, however, called on Iraqis "to exercise utmost restraint and reject all violence and any attempts to destabilize Iraq," his spokesperson said, adding that Gutteres urged all sides to resolve differences through dialog.

Various Iraqi and regional officials have, meanwhile, echoed the premier's concerns about underway attempts at sowing instability and insecurity in the Arab country.

Earlier in the day, the spokesman for the Iraqi Joint Operations Command raised questions about the inactivation of the United States military’s C-RAM systems--used to detect and destroy incoming rockets and flying objects--during the attack on the Iraqi prime minister's residence.

Why were US defense systems deactivated during Baghdad drone attack?

The spokesman for the Iraqi Joint Operations Command says military experts should explain why US C-RAM air defense systems were inactivated during the drone attack on the prime minister’s residence in Baghdad.

And on Friday, an Iraqi political alliance said it considered forces trained by the US to be responsible for deadly shooting that targeted protesters against the election results.

US-trained forces fired on Iraqi protesters: Political alliance

Fatah Alliance considers US-trained forces to be responsible for the recent reportedly deadly shooting that targeted protesters in Baghdad.

Hassan Salem, member of the al-Fatah (Conquest) Alliance in the Iraqi Council of Representatives (Parliament), refused to give any more details, but said the incident took place, when protesters were trying to enter the Green Zone, which also houses the American Embassy and other diplomatic missions.

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