BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:10 P.M.) – The Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mr. Mustafa Al-Kazemi chaired an emergency meeting of the leaders of the security and intelligence services at the headquarters of Baghdad Operations Command, following the occurrence of two suicide attacks in central Baghdad.
Iraqi President Barham Salih commented on the two terrorist bombings on Thursday, saying, “At this time, they confirm the endeavors of dark groups to target the great national needs and the aspirations of our people for a peaceful future. We stand firmly against these rogue attempts to destabilize our country.”
Iraqi Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi said that the double bombing that took place in Baghdad today indicates a dangerous situation, as “blind terrorism tries to destabilize and target societal security.”
ADVERTISEMENT
The head of the Popular Mobilization Authority, Faleh al-Fayyad, affirmed, in turn, that “failed terrorist attempts will not undermine the resolve of our people.” He continued, saying: “Today’s scene brought back into memory the years of the terrorist gangs in the blood of our people.”
In this context, Al-Fayadh stressed that: “Terrorist attempts will not undermine the capabilities of the security forces and the popular crowd, who ended the myth of ISIS.” He added, “We all have confidence in the ability of our security forces, popular mobilization and intelligence agencies to protect civilians.”
For his part, the Secretary-General of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, Sheikh Qais Khazali, said that relaxation of security and political preoccupation with the government are the cause of the terrorist bombing, indicating that: “The intelligence services are supposed to make efforts to find out the details of what happened.”
ALSO READ Kataeb Hezbollah issues statement about not entering US embassy and surrendering weapons
A member of the political bureau of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Saeed Saeedi, said: “The fingerprints of the Al Saud and the Nahyan family are clear in the two explosions.”
He also indicated that the Minister of the Interior should be questioned to find out the reasons for the security lax, adding: “A government that cannot secure a loaf of bread for a citizen has no good.”
He also stressed that the Popular Mobilization Forces and the Resistance stand as a stumbling block in the face of America’s interests and its allies in Iraq.
