Kataib Hezbollah accuses Iraqi PM of falsifying probe into Baghdad attack

BAGHDAD — Kataib Hezbollah accused Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief Mohammed Shia al-Sudani of “falsifying” the results of the government’s investigation into a deadly attack last month in the Dora area of Baghdad.

The July 27 assault targeted the Baghdad Agriculture Directorate, where gunmen stormed a government building and opened fire during a meeting. Security forces returned fire, sparking clashes that left a federal police officer dead and at least 15 others wounded, including both security personnel and civilians.

In a statement, the Iran-backed group alleged the official findings contained “exaggerations” and recommendations not made by the assigned committee. These included opening an investigation into the commander of Al-Jazeera Operations, removing the commanders of the 45th and 46th brigades from their posts, and citing a defect in the Popular Mobilization Forces’ command and control system.

The Iraqi government’s final report identified Kataib Hezbollah members affiliated with the 45th and 46th brigades of the Popular Mobilization Forces as responsible for the attack, according to Sabah al-Numan, spokesman for the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Kataib Hezbollah dismissed the conclusions, saying the measures “only please America and its agents,” and renewed its demand for U.S. troops to leave Iraq.

The group said it had reached an understanding with leaders of the Shiite Coordination Framework to form a “neutral committee” to examine the incident “to avoid any negative exploitation of responsibilities or the imposition of wills contrary to the truth.” It claimed the results announced by the prime minister’s spokesperson were altered from the committee’s actual recommendations.

“We call on the judiciary to intervene and reveal the truth about the official investigation document before it was tampered with,” the statement read.

The group also reiterated its deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. forces, aircraft and personnel from joint operations by September 2025, vowing not to back down from that position “no matter the cost or the sacrifices.”