An Iraqi army vehicle is deployed near the banks of the Tigris River to protect the US Embassy in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone [Getty]
Iraq’s air defence systems on Tuesday fired at a drone flying over Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone where the US embassy is located, a military source told AFP.
It was the first such incident in the Iraqi capital since a fragile ceasefire in the US-Israeli war against Iran took effect on April 8.
Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq have targeted US interests since the beginning of the war, including the embassy in Baghdad and other US-linked facilities.
The US has also struck their positions and bases, killing dozens of fighters.
“At 1915 (1615 GMT), the air defence of Camp Honor (the defence ministry) detected an unidentified drone over the Green Zone,” the military source said.
“The air defence systems were activated towards the target,” he said, adding that the drone was not shot down.
Shrapnel from the attempt to shoot down the drone injured one person, said the source, which did not identify the type of drone used to fly over the sensitive area.
The zone houses the US embassy and other diplomatic missions, as well as international institutions and government offices. High-ranking officials and politicians also live there.
Earlier, AFP journalists heard what sounded like gunfire and small explosions.
