DUBAI, UAE – An official within Iraq's Shiite National Current said Thursday that an attack targeted one of Saraya al-Salam headquarters in Diyala Province early this morning, injuring two members of the group.

 

“On the surface, the attack appears to target the Shiite National Current and its leader, Muqtada al-Sadr,” the official said, speaking to The New Region on the condition of anonymity. “But an investigation is underway, and it could even turn out to be a criminal act. This is something the ongoing investigation will clarify in the coming hours.”

 

Saraya al-Salam is a Shiite armed group linked to powerful Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

 

The official described Diyala as a “volatile province with ongoing security breaches and a high concentration of armed factions,” which complicates the identification of the motive behind the attack.

 

He noted that Saraya al-Salam, which operates under the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), is among the most compliant with the directives of Iraq’s Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

 

Saraya al-Salam forces were put on high alert following the attack, preparing for potential escalation. A security source who also requested anonymity told The New Region that the attack likely stemmed from disputes between Saraya al-Salam members and another armed faction, which had sought to claim the building currently being used by Saraya al-Salam forces as their headquarters in the Kanaan area of Diyala.

 

“Members of Saraya al-Salam have forcefully taken over the building, which led to its targeting with an RPG and gunfire from masked men wielding rifles,” the source said.

 

Security forces have since cordoned off the scene and initiated an investigation to identify those involved.

 

According to a statement by Hakem al-Zamili, a prominent figure within the Shiite National Current, local police are cooperating with Diyala's judicial authorities and have issued arrest warrants for the suspected attackers.

 

“We have stressed that endangering civilian lives is unacceptable and called on security forces to show no leniency toward those responsible,” Zamili said.