Conflicting Reports Emerge over Assassination Attempt against Iraqi Officer

Deputy Director of Military Intelligence at the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, Brigadier General Zaid al-Maksousi, survived an assassination attempt in an area south of Baghdad on Saturday.

Security sources said that as his convoy was making its way back to Baghdad, it was attacked near the Diyala Bridge by gunmen traveling in three Salvador vehicles.

Maksousi’s security exchanged fire with them, injuring one and seizing one of their cars. Two of the security forces were also injured in the incident.

No one claimed the responsibility for the attack, including the ISIS terrorist organization.

An informed source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Maksousi was returning to the capital from the Wasit governorate, where he was on a social visit accompanied by his brother.

The source explained that given his rank and involvement in the liberation battles against ISIS, Maksousi is more likely to be targeted by the terrorist organization.

However, preliminary information revealed that the official was not the intended target, and that the attack was a result of a dispute between two tribes in the region, according to the source.

Diyala and the surrounding areas continue to suffer from instability due to conflicts between ISIS, armed factions and militias that are active in the region

Diyala MP Mudar al-Karawi said the province is suffering from “security vacuum” in five areas, most notably the countryside of Jalawla, which was repeatedly attacked by terrorists several months ago. Several civilians and members of the security forces were killed and injured in those attacks.

Karawi added that the Defense Ministry has pledged to immediately address the situation through a number of plans, including the deployment of several surveillance points.

The MP stressed the importance of improving security in Diyala that would in turn maintain security in Baghdad.