BAGHDAD (Reuters – The drone attack on the Iraqi prime Minister Sunday was executed by at most one Iran-backed militia. It happened weeks after pro Iran parties were defeated in elections that they claimed were rigged.

Sources and independent analysts stated that the attackers are unlikely to have been sanctioned from the Islamic Republic. Tehran, however, wants to keep the violence away at its western borders.

When three bomber drones were dropped on his Baghdad home, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi was uninjured. Many of his bodyguards sustained serious injuries.

It triggered tensions in Iraq. Iran-backed paramilitaries, which are powerful and well-armed, dispute the results of the general elections last month. They suffered a devastating defeat at the polls. This has greatly diminished their influence in Parliament.

Many Iraqis worry that tensions between the Shi’ite Muslim principal groups and state institutions could lead to civil conflict.

Baghdad streets seemed quieter on Monday and there were additional police and military checkpoints around the capital.

Analysts and officials in Iraq said that the terrorist attack was intended to send a message to militias about their willingness to use violence to prevent them from forming a government or losing control of large parts of the state apparatus.

“It was a clear message of, ‘We can create chaos in Iraq – we have the guns, we have the means’,” said Hamdi Malik, a specialist on Iraq’s Shi’ite Muslim militias at the Washington Institute.

None of the attackers have been claimed to be responsible. The Iranian government and Iran-backed militias did not comment immediately.

Two local officials spoke out on condition of anonymity to confirm that Tehran was aware about the attack prior to its execution, and that Iranian authorities did not order it.

According to sources, the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards overseas Quds Force traveled to Iraq after Sunday’s attack in order to speak with paramilitary leaders to urge them not to escalate violence.

On Monday, two Iraqi security officers spoke to Reuters under anonymity and said that the Kataib Hezbollah was responsible for the attack along with Asaib Ahl al-Haq.

An unnamed militia source claimed that Kataib Hezbollah had been involved, but that he was unable to confirm Asaib’s involvement.

Both groups did not comment on the recording.

INTRA-SHI’ITE TENIONS

Shi’ite cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr was the main winner of the election. He is opposed to Iran-backed groups and preaches Iraqi nationalalism.

Malik stated that Sadr’s militia, which is also Iran-backed by militias, was targeted in the drone strike. This would be a dangerous scenario for Iran and would lead to Tehran opposing it.

“I do not believe Iran is interested in a Shi’ite Shi’ite civil War.” “It would reduce its influence in Iraq, and it would allow other groups to become stronger,” he stated.

Sadr’s rise in power is causing concern to many Iran-aligned militias.

Iran-backed groups that are Shi’ite like their patron Iran consider Kadhimi to be both Sadr’s man as well as friendly towards Tehran’s arch foe, the United States.

Iran-backed militias raised accusations of fraud during the October 10 elections, but provided no proof. Their supporters have been staging protests for weeks near the government buildings in Iraq since then.

MADE IN IRAN

A security official in Iraq stated that the drones used were “quadcopter” types and carried one projectile with high explosives. This could cause damage to buildings, armoured cars and other structures.

Officials added that they were identical to Iranian-made explosives and drones used in the attacks on U.S forces in Iraq this year. Washington has blamed Iran-aligned militias, including Kataib Hezbollah.

Last month, the United States targeted Iran’s drone program with new sanctions. It claimed that Tehran’s Revolutionary Guards had used drones to attack U.S forces and Washington’s regional allies, as well as international shipping.