Iraqi ministry says three drones used in assassination attempt on Kadhimi

Iraq’s Interior Ministry revealed new details on Sunday morning regarding the previous night’s assassination attempt against Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.

The ministry said that the attack was carried out with three drones, only one of which succeeded in reaching the Iraqi premier’s home.

Saad Maan, a spokesman for the ministry, said that Iraqi security forces had fired heavily on the drones, managing to shoot down two of them.

He added that while the drones were not capable of destroying a house, they were able to cause the death of a human being.

Several security guards protecting Kadhimi were injured in the drone strike, the Iraqi News Agency reported.

The agency also published photographs of Kadhimi’s home, showing damage to stairs and a doorway.

#Iraqi PM kadhimi safe after drone attack on residence, military says https://t.co/22qnNkfXgW : By @JohnDrtrs pic.twitter.com/gCqPy6Y4Uq

— Ahmed Rasheed (@Ahmed_Rasheed_R) November 7, 2021

The Iraqi Joint Operations Command earlier issued a statement saying that Kadhimi had been targeted by a “failed assassination attempt” with an “explosive-laden drone” aimed at his home in Baghdad’s Green Zone.

It added that the prime minister “had not been harmed and was in good health”.

Kadhimi later said on Twitter, “I am well and praise God, in the midst of my people, and I call for calm and restraint from everyone for the sake of Iraq.”

Kadhimi carried out a tour of the Green Zone following the assassination attempt, which took place following clashes around the zone between security forces and supporters of pro-Iran factions protesting against recent parliamentary election results.

Pro-Iranian militias, which have denounced recent election results as “fraud”, denied any involvement in the assassination attempt.

The Fatah Alliance political coalition, which is linked to the pro-Iran militias, performed poorly in recent parliamentary elections, with preliminary results indicating that it had won only 15 seats in the 329 seat Iraqi parliament.