Drone attack by militants on Iraqi PM ‘marks escalation’ in power struggle

Officials see strike on premier's home as assassination attempt by Iran-backed groups trying to overturn election result

Senior figures in Iraq believe a brazen drone attack on the home of Iraq's prime minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, marks an unprecedented escalation between the country's leaders and Iran-backed militant groups attempting to overturn last month's election.

The overnight attack is seen by Iraqi officials as an assassination attempt, and the first of its kind against a prime minister since the US-led invasion to remove Saddam Hussein nearly 19 years ago.