ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A top Kurdish officer in the Iraqi intelligence service was assassinated on Monday in Baghdad, the National Intelligence Service has confirmed, in the second assassination operation against intelligence officers in recent months.
The National Intelligence Service confirmed the assassination of Nibras Farman al-Faily, describing it as a "desperate attempt" to dissuade the agency from its work.
"At a time when the National Intelligence Service expresses its deepest condolences to the martyr's family, relatives and loved ones, it affirms that the martyr's blood will be a beacon for retribution against the criminal killers who are trying to rob the will of the state and weaken the determination of its sons," it said in a statement.
Faily’s assassination comes two weeks after Iraqi security forces arrested a prominent leader from the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashd al-Shaabi) Qassem Musleh at in May on terrorism-related charges. Musleh has been accused of being linked to the killing of prominent activists in Karbala.
The arrest was carried out by the anti-corruption committee led by Ahmed Abu Ragheef, a senior intelligence and investigations officer in the Ministry of Interior.
Faily’s death comes two months after the Ministry of Interior’s deputy director of military intelligence survived an assassination attempt south of Baghdad.
In March, an intelligence officer was assassinated in Mansour district, west of the Iraqi capital.
Tension between the intelligence service and pro-Iranian militias has risen recently, with militias threatening those working for the intelligence service.
In March, Sadiqoun bloc MP Hassan Salem, who represents the Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia attacked the Iraqi intelligence service, saying that it should be "purified of the traitors" who coordinate with the United States.
.webp&w=3840&q=75)