US Embassy in Baghdad hit by rocket

The United States Embassy in Baghdad was struck by a missile on Saturday, causing visible smoke to rise from the heavily fortified Green Zone. According to security officials, the projectile landed directly on a helipad within the embassy compound. While the full extent of the damage remains under investigation, reports indicate that part of the facility's air defense system was destroyed during the incident. Reports Aljazeera.com.

This attack follows a period of heightened tensions in the region, marked by frequent exchanges between US forces and Iran-aligned armed groups. Just prior to the strike, reports emerged of separate operations targeting the Iran-backed group Kataib Hezbollah, which resulted in the deaths of two members. The US Embassy had recently issued a Level 4 security alert, warning that American interests in Iraq remain at risk of being targeted by Tehran-backed factions.

No casualties have been confirmed by official sources, and the US Embassy has yet to release a formal statement regarding the assault. The Green Zone, which houses various government institutions and foreign diplomatic missions, has frequently been the site of rocket and drone attacks since the onset of the current conflict. Local observers note that these hostilities reflect the ongoing proxy struggle between Washington and Tehran, which has intensified significantly in recent weeks.