Drone targets hotel in C. Baghdad

BAGHDAD -- A booby-trapped drone struck on Monday evening a hotel in central Baghdad, with huge explosions heard, an Iraqi security source said.

An Interior Ministry source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that the drone hit the roof of the Royal Tulip al-Rasheed Hotel in the heavily fortified Green Zone area.

The source said that the security forces has launched an investigation into the incident. No casualties or damage have been reported so far.

The Green Zone in central Baghdad houses Iraqi government buildings, the parliament, and foreign missions, including the US embassy. The fortified zone has been a frequent target of rocket and mortar fire in recent years.

The incident occurs amid a surge in attacks targeting foreign missions and military bases in Iraq, following the outbreak of a wider regional conflict on Feb. 28 involving Israel and the United States against Iran.