Unidentified gunmen on Sunday evening assassinated Dr Hisham al-Hashimi, a highly respected Iraqi security analyst and researcher.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media that Hashimi, 47, was killed outside his home in Baghdad’s Zayouna neighbourhood, in the eastern half of the city, where he was ambushed by four men on two motorcycles, who shot him several times, an informed source told Kurdistan 24 on condition of anonymity.

The assailants reportedly used silenced weapons and immediately fled the scene.

Saad Maan, Director of Communications at Iraq’s Ministry of Interior, explained that Hashimi was taken to Ibn Al-Nafees Hospital, where he was declared dead from his wounds.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.