Iraqi expert on armed groups shot dead in Baghdad

A leading Iraqi expert on the Islamic State and other militant groups was shot dead in Baghdad on Monday after receiving threats from Iran-backed militias, security officials said. Weeks before his death, al-Hashimi had told confidantes he feared Iran-backed militia groups were targeting him.


PTI | Baghdad | Updated: 07-07-2020 01:10 IST | Created: 07-07-2020 01:03 IST
Iraqi expert on armed groups shot dead in Baghdad
Representative Image Image Credit: ANI
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  • Iraq

A leading Iraqi expert on the Islamic State and other militant groups was shot dead in Baghdad on Monday after receiving threats from Iran-backed militias, security officials said. Hisham al-Hashimi, 47, was shot near his home in the Zeyouneh area of Baghdad and pronounced dead at a hospital, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Al-Hashimi was a respected security analyst who appeared regularly on Iraqi television and whose expertise was sought out by government officials, journalists and researchers. Weeks before his death, al-Hashimi had told confidantes he feared Iran-backed militia groups were targeting him. He was known to be critical of militia activity.

His death comes as the government grapples with a spate of rocket attacks targeting US interests in the country believed to be orchestrated by Iran-backed militia groups. A raid last week detained 14 members of the powerful Kataib Hezbollah group. All but one were released.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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