Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi escaped unhurt from an "assassination attempt" in which an explosives-packed drone hit his Baghdad residence early today, a new escalation in the country's post-election turmoil.
He appeared in a video footage published by his office chairing a meeting with top security commanders to discuss the drone attack.
"The cowardly terrorist attack that targeted the home of the prime minister last night with the aim of assassinating him, is a serious targeting of the Iraqi state by criminal armed groups," his office said in a statement after the meeting.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, said he condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms" and hoped the injured made a swift recovery.
US President Joe Biden condemned the "terrorist attack" and said he was "relieved" Mr Kadhemi was not injured, while Iraqi President Barham Saleh said it was an attempted "coup against the constitutional system".
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson "strongly condemned" the attack, his office said.
The drone strike has not been claimed by any group.
Mr Kadhemi, 54, and in power since May 2020, appealed for "calm and restraint" before chairing a meeting at his office in the high-security Baghdad Green Zone, where the overnight attack took place.
Three drones were launched from near a Tigris River bridge but two were intercepted, said security sources, adding that two bodyguards were wounded.
Gunfire rang out and smoke rose from the Green Zone after the strike, which Kadhemi's office labelled a "failed assassination attempt".
"It's premature now to say who carried out the attack," said the security official on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to comment on security details.
"We're checking our intelligence reports and waiting for initial investigation results to point the finger at perpetrators."
Photos issued by Mr Kadhemi's office showed debris strewn on the ground below a damaged exterior stairway and a door that had been dislodged.
In a short video, he said that "my residence has been the target of a cowardly assault. Praise God, I am fine."
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The attack came two days after security forces clashed with supporters of Iran-backed parties that lost support in the 10 October parliament election, and who have charged they were the victims of vote irregularities.
The groups leading protests and complaints about the result are heavily armed Iran-backed militias which lost much of their parliamentary power in the election. They have alleged voting and vote-counting irregularities.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Iraqi military said that the attack targeted Mr Kadhimi's residence and that he was in "good health". It provided no further detail.
Two government officials said Mr Kadhimi's residence had been hit by at least one explosion and confirmed to Reuters that the prime minister was safe.
Six members of Mr Kadhimi's personal protection force stationed outside his residence had been injured, security sources said.
Western diplomats based nearby in the Green Zone said they heard explosions and gunfire in the area.
Supporters of Iran-aligned militia groups, which have expanded their power in parliament and government in recent years, have protested the results of the October election.
Demonstrations by their supporters turned violent on Friday when protesters pelted police with stones near the Green Zone, injuring several officers.
The police responded with tear gas and live gunfire, killing at least one demonstrator, according to security and hospital sources in Baghdad.
Independent analysts say the election results were are flection of anger towards the Iran-backed armed groups, which are widely accused of involvement in the killing of nearly 600 protesters who took the street in separate, anti-government demonstrations in 2019.
