Residents of Baghdad heard the sound of an explosion followed by heavy gunfire from the direction of the Green Zone, which houses foreign embassies and government offices. In a statement, the government said an explosives-laden drone tried to hit al-Kadhimi’s home.

“Cowardly rocket and drone attacks don’t build homelands and don’t build a future,” he said. He later appeared on Iraqi television, seated behind a desk in a white shirt, looking calm and composed. He called for calm and restraint, “for the sake of Iraq.” Thank God,” the prime minister tweeted shortly after the attack. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to give official statements. Two Iraqi officials told The Associated Press that seven of al-Kadhimi’s security guards were injured in the attack with two armed drones which occurred in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone area. The attack was a major escalation amid tensions sparked by the refusal of Iran-backed militias to accept last month’s parliamentary election results. BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi survived an assassination attempt with armed drones that targeted his residence early Sunday and officials said he was unharmed.

Haley mustafa