Will the "Katyusha" destroy the popularity of the Shiite factions in Iraq?

It appears that the finger of blame at the Shiite factions of responsibility for the repeated missile attacks on the sites of foreign missions in Iraq.

In the hearts of these factions, there is a fear of losing their popularity in the Iraqi street, because most of these missiles fall on civilian homes.

Leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr urged the Iraqi government to act after the recent missile targeting of the Green Zone in Baghdad, saying, "The government should not stand idly by."

Al-Sadr added - in his tweet last Monday on Twitter - that "terrorizing civilians and citizens and exposing their lives to danger distorts the reputation of the resistance and weakens its popularity in the hearts of the people."

pic.twitter.com/Ec945Zpom9

- Muqtada al-Sayyid Muhammad al-Sadr (@Mu_AlSadr) February 22, 2021

And the White House confirmed - last Tuesday evening - that US President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi discussed the recent missile attacks on Iraqi and coalition forces, and agreed on the need to hold those responsible accountable.

Factions popularity

The continued targeting of foreign diplomatic sites in this way weakens the popularity of the factions in Iraq, given that those affected by the indiscriminate bombing are mainly citizens, according to political expert Manaf al-Mousawi.

Al-Mousawi indicated to Al-Jazeera Net that "the wrong bombing and the fall of Katyusha rockets on civilian homes or government facilities has become a negative card used against these armed factions."

He added, "The targeting of diplomatic missions has weakened the prestige of the state and strained relations with other countries, especially since the current Iraqi government adopted earlier opening dialogue with the armed factions and controlling the file of targeting foreign sites."

The political expert considered the return of Katyusha rockets again a negative indicator that opens the red light for the Iraqi government to find quick solutions to this file, because the armed parties do not reveal their identity and cannot be negotiated.

And the Iraqi Ministry of Defense announced - last Monday evening - that a missile attack targeted the Green Zone (in the center of the capital, Baghdad), where the headquarters of foreign diplomatic missions, including the US embassy, ​​are located, and the attack came after two attacks;

One is at Erbil airport in Iraqi Kurdistan, and the other is at Balad base (north of Baghdad).

Unruly groups

"There are unruly armed groups seeking to create security chaos and influence the political situation in Iraq," as confirmed by the Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee in the Iraqi Parliament.

Committee member Abdul Khaleq Al-Azzawi pointed out that "the committee hosted national security advisors and some security leaders in an emergency meeting to discuss developments in targeting diplomatic missions in Iraq."

Al-Azzawi added to Al-Jazeera Net that the current Iraqi government bears the responsibility for the continued repeated missile targeting of foreign missions and headquarters, and bears the responsibility for not holding the perpetrators accountable out of the law.

Al-Rubaie attacked Al-Kazemi for his inability to manage the security file and the weakness of his intelligence efforts (communication sites)

Al-Kazemi takes responsibility

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the "Sadikoun" bloc affiliated with the "Asaib Ahl al-Haq" movement, Mahmoud al-Rubaie, attacked the Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mustafa al-Kazimi, for his inability to manage the security file and the weakness of his intelligence efforts, and the failure to reveal the officials behind the repeated attacks on Foreign missions and held accountable.

Al-Rubaie told Al-Jazeera Net that the indiscriminate bombing of diplomatic missions is unacceptable by all factions under the "Coordinating Body for the Iraqi Resistance."

Al-Rubaie said that the factions have important information about the parties behind the repeated targeting of the US embassy in the capital, Baghdad, and the information was handed over to the Iraqi government security authorities, and did not move to hold the perpetrators accountable.

And on the comment of the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, about the possibility of a decline in the popularity of the Shiite armed factions as a result of the continued flying of Katyusha rockets randomly

Al-Rubaie indicated that there are parties and groups that are not affiliated with the factions that carry out missile attacks with the aim of tarnishing the image and reputation of the Popular Mobilization Forces and the factions affiliated with it.

Al-Zubaidi believed that targeting diplomatic organizations weakens Iraq's prestige before the international community (Al-Jazeera Net)

Constant attacks

Regarding these attacks, security expert Saad Al-Zubaidi believed that the continued targeting of diplomatic agencies would weaken the prestige of Iraq before the international community, and it might introduce it into issues and matters complicating its international relations.

Al-Zubaidi explained to Al-Jazeera Net that the Iraqi security system is very weak, and it is unable to know the implementing agencies, in addition to the weakness of the current government, which is the weakest government that has passed through Iraq after 2003.

The security expert pointed out that the current situation and the continuation of missile targeting have forced most international companies not to invest and work in Iraq amid a stifling economic crisis that the country suffers from.

He added that there is an irresponsible armed faction that does not fall under the government's wing, which is behind the systematic bombing of diplomatic missions in Baghdad and other provinces.