A video clip circulating on Iraqi social media shows armed men firing an RPG and AK-47 rounds at the house. [Getty]
An attack early Wednesday by unknown gunmen targeted the home of Sheikh Sadr al-Din al-Qapanchi, a prominent Shia imam who often leads Friday prayers in Najaf. A guard was injured in the assault, but Sheikh al-Qapanchi himself was unharmed in what officials are describing as “a failed assassination attempt”.
Al-Qapanchi, a leading cleric at Najaf’s main mosque, holds a pivotal role in a city that is central to Shia religious life, hosting influential authorities, including Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani. His residence in Najaf’s Al-Ghadir district sustained material damage from the attack, reportedly involving rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and gunfire from AK-47 rifles.
A video circulating on Iraqi social media shows armed men firing on the residence.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether al-Qapanchi was present at the time, and no group has claimed responsibility.
The Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI), of which al-Qapanchi is a member, issued a statement condemning the attack. “We strongly denounce this heinous terrorist act targeting Najaf’s imam of Friday prayers, His Eminence Sheikh Sadr al-Din al-Qapanchi,” the council said, describing the assault as a threat to religious figures and the city’s role as a hub for Shiite learning and pilgrimage. ISCI called on Najaf’s local authorities to prioritize security in the region.
In response to the incident, police have launched an investigation, cordoning off the area and implementing checkpoints as they analyse surveillance footage to trace the attackers.
Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, leader of the National Shia Movement, visited al-Qapanchi to offer his support, condemning the attack and stating that any act of violence against Iraqis is an affront to him personally. He added that any party members involved in such actions would be immediately expelled.
This recent attempt on al-Qapanchi’s life draws grim comparisons to a violent incident on 9 April 2003, when another prominent Shia cleric, Sayed Abdul Majid al-Khoei, was assassinated near Najaf‘s revered Imam Ali shrine.
