Iraqi premier orders probe into Diyala’s sectarian violence

By Ali Jawad

BAGHDAD (AA) – Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi on Thursday ordered a comprehensive investigation into the sectarian clashes in Diyala city during the past two days, which left 23 people dead.

In a statement, the country's Interior Ministry said: “Interior Minister Othman al-Ghanimi conveyed condolences and sympathy of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mustafa al-Kadhimi to families in the village of Al-Rashad and the village of Nahr Al-Imam in Diyala Governorate.”

On Wednesday, eight Sunni civilians were killed by Shia gunmen in an apparent revenge attack in Iraq’s eastern Diyala province.

The attack came a day after suspected Daesh/ISIS terrorists attacked the predominantly Shia village of al-Rashad in Diyala Tuesday evening, killing at least 15 people and injuring 13 others.

In recent months, Daesh/ISIS terrorists have escalated their attacks, especially in the area between Kirkuk, Salahuddin, and Diyala, known as the “Triangle of Death”.

In 2017, Iraq declared victory over Daesh/ISIS by reclaiming all territories the terrorist group controlled since the summer of 2014, about one-third of the country’s territory.

The group, however, still maintains sleeper cells in large areas of Iraq and occasionally launches attacks.

* Writing by Bassel Barakat in Ankara