ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Several explosive drones were shot down on Monday in Sulaimani’s Dabashan in the vicinity of where Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani lives.

Footage began circulating on social media of several loud booms and drone sightings in Sulaimani in the early hours of Monday. The drones were shot down near the PUK leader's living quarters in Dabashan, a source in Sulaimani’s local security forces (Asayish) confirmed to The New Region later in the day, saying that “at 4:00 am today, several explosive drones were shot down near Dabashan.”

"Investigations have begun to determine the source of these drones, as the direction from which they were launched remains unknown," the source added.

Reports regarding any loss of life or material damage resulting from the Monday drone attacks have yet to emerge as of the time of writing this article.

The aggression came just over a week after PUK-affiliated forces on August 22 raided and surrounded the Lalezar hotel—the residence of Lahur Sheikh Jangi, leader of the People’s Front party and former co-chair of the PUK—with over 10,000 men. Jangi and his brother were apprehended by the besieging forces after an intense gunfight that featured light and heavy weaponry and lasted hours.

Drones were seen targeting the PUK leader’s residence in Dabashan on the night of the raid.

The PUK-affiliated Sulaimani Asayish later alleged in a seven-page document on Wednesday that Jangi was involved in an assassination attempt on Talabani, citing statements from the apprehended individuals from the Lalezar gunfight, as well as the agency’s own investigative efforts. The New Region has not been able to independently verify the circumstances under which the confessions were acquired.