No casualties after drone crash near Iraq intelligence HQ in Baghdad: report

An Iraqi security source said a drone crashed near the Intelligence Service headquarters in Baghdad on Wednesday night, without causing any casualties.

The source, a Baghdad police officer who chose to remain anonymous, told Turkish state news agency Anadolu that “a drone of unknown origin crashed suddenly just before midnight on Wednesday in the Mansour area, west of the capital, Baghdad”.

The drone crashed 1.5 kilometres from the Iraqi intelligence service headquarters, the police officer said.

Security forces deployed in #Baghdad near to #Iraq’s intelligence service compound after failed drone attack. pic.twitter.com/9OM41s2NvZ

— Blesa Shaways (@Bilesa_Shaweys) December 22, 2021

The source said police conducted an investigation and found the drone was not carrying any weaponry or explosives. 

"The origins or reasons for its operation in the area are not yet known,” they added.

The incident comes days after two rockets struck Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, home to the US embassy, causing property damage but no casualties.

In November, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi survived a failed assassination attempt carried out using three drones rigged with explosives on the Iraqi premier’s private residence in Baghdad.

Two of the drones were shot down, while the third caused serious damage to the premises.