Iraqi Interior Minister Promises Strong Response After Police Officers Killed in Baghdad

The Iraqi Interior Minister, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Al-Shammari, promised today, Sunday, a strong and decisive response to anyone who threatens the security of Iraq or attempts to undermine the prestige of the state and its institutions, affirming that the ministry will confront any attempt to destabilize with all strength and determination.

Al-Shammari stated in an official statement reported by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "Anyone who raises arms against the state or attacks its personnel will face deterrent measures, and we will strike with an iron fist against anyone who attempts to tamper with the security of Iraq and the dignity of its institutions," emphasizing that the Ministry of Interior fully assumes its responsibilities in facing these challenges.

These statements came following the bloody events that took place in the capital Baghdad on Saturday evening, where four federal police officers were killed, including two officers, and nine others were injured during a security intervention to disperse an armed tribal dispute in the "Al-Saada" area east of Baghdad, near the gas factory in the Rusafa side of the city.

The statement clarified that the security forces were subjected to a direct armed attack by those responsible for the dispute, which led to the casualties, while the forces responded to the source of the fire, resulting in the death of two attackers and the injury of five others, in addition to the arrest of six individuals involved in the clash.

Al-Shammari mourned the victims from the police forces, affirming that "their blood will not be shed in vain," adding:

"We have directed to continue security operations until all those involved in this attack are arrested to receive their just punishment and to be held accountable."

The minister also pointed out that "terrorism, drugs, and tribal disputes today represent a serious threat to societal peace, and they are despicable criminal methods that are equally dangerous to one another," emphasizing that the war against these phenomena continues, with no room for compromise or leniency, as "the law will remain above all."

It is noteworthy that the Al-Saada area, where the dispute occurred, is considered one of the tense areas in eastern Baghdad, witnessing tribal disputes from time to time that sometimes escalate into armed confrontations, troubling security forces and affecting the stability of the capital.