The Iraqi National Security Service (INSS) announced on Friday that the security agency thwarted a plot aimed at assassinating its head and several officials by the banned Baath Party.

The INSS issued an official statement confirming that under the direct supervision of its head, Abdul-Karim al-Basri, field units in Baghdad have “successfully thwarted a dangerous criminal plot.”

“The plot was backed by a cell linked to the so-called ‘Iraqi National Gathering for Liberation and Change,’ which is one of the fronts for the banned Baath Party,” the agency confirmed.

Assassination Cell Had Selected Targets and Gathered Weapons 

According to the INSS, investigations and interrogations showed that the cell members had progressed beyond making threats and incitement.

The agency noted that the group had advanced to assigning specific roles, selecting targets, and gathering weapons to carry out the planned assassination operations.

Upcoming Report to Detail Confessions

The INSS highlighted that the operation succeeded after a rigorous intelligence campaign involving continuous surveillance, tracking, and deep infiltration.

“Through a proactive effort and based on judicial approvals, the service's detachments managed to uncover the plot, track its members, topple those involved, and seize the evidence and contraband linked to the case before it reached the execution stage,” it explained.

The INSS added that an upcoming report will detail the suspects' confessions, operational roles, and the planning phases prior to the plot's disruption.

Background: The Mandate and Core Security Responsibilities 

The Iraqi National Security Service is the country's primary domestic intelligence agency, operating under the direct authority of the Prime Minister. The agency is legally mandated to counter internal security threats, including domestic terrorism, organized crime, economic fraud, and illicit trafficking networks.