UAV Falls Near Historic Minaret in Karbala Province

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A drone fell near a historic minaret in Karbala Province on Monday, officials said, though no injuries or damage were reported. Ain et-Tamer District Governor Miqdad Wahab al-Tamimi confirmed the unmanned aerial vehicle came down near the Mojida Minaret. Security units have begun investigating to determine the nature of the device and its ownership. Karbala Governor Nassif Jassim al-Khattabi denied initial reports that a passenger aircraft had crashed in the area, saying the fallen object was a drone. The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority and Air Navigation Services General Company said no civil aircraft accidents were recorded in Iraqi airspace or territory. The Mojida Minaret sits in a desert area along the Ain et-Tamer road, roughly 40 kilometers southwest of Karbala's city center, and is among the province's notable historical landmarks.