Sudani visits intelligence headquarters after deadly drone strike

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani visited the Iraqi National Intelligence Service headquarters in Baghdad on Sunday, a day after a drone strike killed an officer there, directing authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and publicly identify those responsible.

“Announce to our great Iraqi people the party responsible for this disgraceful terrorist act, without hesitation in exposing those responsible and bringing them to justice,” Sudani said during the visit. He described the perpetrators as “a cowardly group that violated Iraqi blood and transgressed against state institutions,” adding that “whoever dares to shed Iraqi blood does not represent Iraq, and no justification can legitimize this crime.”

Sudani called on political forces to take “a clear and explicit position” on attacks targeting state institutions, and reiterated that decisions of war and peace “belong exclusively to the state” — a pointed message as Iran-aligned factions formally incorporated into Iraq’s own security apparatus continue to carry out attacks the government has repeatedly condemned.

He said the government “acts with wisdom and responsibility” but “will not stand idle in the face of the violation of Iraqi blood or encroachment on the country’s national interests.”

The Saturday strike on the Mansour district headquarters was the latest in a sustained wave of drone and rocket attacks on government facilities, diplomatic missions and military sites since the regional war began Feb. 28. The U.S. Embassy compound has been struck multiple times. The Al-Rasheed Hotel, housing the Saudi embassy and the EU Advisory Mission, was hit by a drone. The UAE Consulate General in Erbil was targeted twice in a week. NATO completed the withdrawal of all its personnel from Iraq on March 20. Each attack has drawn condemnations and pledges to pursue those responsible. The strikes have continued regardless.