Baghdad: Iraq's National Security Service announced on Friday that it successfully thwarted a plot to assassinate the agency's chief and several senior officers, apprehending suspects allegedly tied to a group linked with the banned Baath Party.

According to Anadolu Agency, the operation was conducted under the direct supervision of National Security Service chief Abdul Karim al-Basri. It followed an extensive intelligence effort involving surveillance, monitoring, and infiltration. The suspects were reportedly connected to the Iraqi National Gathering for Liberation and Change, which the agency identified as a front organization for the outlawed Baath Party.

The agency revealed that investigations and interrogations indicated that members of the cell had progressed beyond incitement and threats, moving towards assigning tasks, identifying targets, and preparing weapons for attacks. The planned assassinations aimed to target al-Basri, the agency's spokesman, Baghdad's security director, and several other officers.

The agency detailed that its units uncovered the plot, tracked down those involved, and seized evidence related to the case before the plan could be executed. It further mentioned that additional information, including confessions by the suspects and details about the planning process, would be disclosed in the future.