BAGHDAD — A Sunni political candidate was killed in a late-night bombing north of Baghdad, escalating tensions just weeks before Iraq upcoming parliamentary elections.
Safaa Al Mashhadani, a member of the Baghdad provincial council and a candidate in next month’s vote, died when an explosive device detonated under his vehicle near Tarmiya shortly after midnight, according to Mahmoud Al Mashhadani, Speaker of Iraq’s parliament.
The Speaker condemned the attack, describing it as “a cowardly terrorist act that sought to undermine the men of stance and principle.”
He added, “Tarmiya has lost one of its loyal, virtuous sons who dedicated himself to serving the people, and sincerely and faithfully sought to uphold the values of justice and patriotism.”
Security officials confirmed that the explosive had been planted beneath the car. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing.
Al Mashhadani was a member of the Siyada Coalition, a Sunni political bloc led by Khamis Al Khanjar, which draws support from tribes in Al Anbar and Salaheddin provinces and maintains backing from regional allies such as Turkey and Qatar.
In a statement, the coalition denounced the killing as “an extension of the approach of exclusion, targeting and treachery pursued by the forces of uncontrolled weapons and terrorism, all of which seek to silence free national voices.”
The bloc also paid tribute to the slain politician, saying he “fought and struggled for his people and his city of Tarmiyah, against both terrorism and the forces of uncontrolled weapons.”
Tarmiya, located about 30 kilometers north of the capital, has long been a volatile area. Although attacks have declined in recent years following intensified counterterrorism operations by Iraqi forces and their international partners, Daesh remnants continue to operate in nearby rural regions, occasionally targeting civilians and security forces.
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Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani has ordered an official investigation into the assassination, directing security agencies to bring those responsible to justice.
Iraq is set to hold parliamentary elections on November 11, the sixth since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. The vote is expected to be highly contested, with Shiite blocs many allied with Iran holding the majority in the 329-seat parliament.
The assassination of Safaa Al Mashhadani has sparked renewed concern about election security and political violence, raising fears of further instability as the country approaches polling day.