Iran-backed militants attack US embassy in Baghdad with drones and rockets

Iran-backed militants launched a significant drone and rocket attack against the US Embassy in Baghdad early Tuesday morning.

“Middle East conflict escalatesLive Updates10:42, 17 March 2026 Drones, rockets fired at US embassy in Baghdad 2 minute read”

Armenpress

The attack was described as the most intense assault on the diplomatic compound since the beginning of the US-Israel war with Iran.

BBC

Iraqi security sources reported rockets and at least five drones launched from areas around the city.

A Reuters witness observed at least three drones heading toward the embassy compound.

The embassy's C-RAM air defense system shot down two of the incoming drones.

A third drone struck inside the compound, causing visible fire and smoke to rise.

An additional explosion was heard throughout the Iraqi capital as the attack unfolded.

US embassy officials remained unresponsive to media inquiries during the incident.

In a separate but related incident, a drone struck Baghdad's Al-Rasheed Hotel, located in the heavily fortified Green Zone near the US Embassy.

The luxury hotel houses the EU Advisory Mission in Iraq and is frequently used by international diplomats, journalists and business travelers.

BNO News

The hotel was hit on the top floor, causing visible fire and smoke but fortunately no casualties.

Iraqi security sources confirmed that the drone had collided with the hotel's upper fence.

Damage was primarily limited to two vehicles parked inside the garage.

This attack came hours after air defense systems had thwarted a separate Katyusha rocket attack targeting the US Embassy compound.

The incidents created a coordinated assault on multiple diplomatic facilities in the capital's most secure district.

These attacks occurred in the context of escalating retaliation by Iranian-backed militias following the killing of a senior commander from Kataeb Hezbollah.

“Published on By A wave of drones targeted the U”

BNO News

On Monday, Kataeb Hezbollah announced the death of Abu Ali al-Askari, who served as the group's senior security commander and spokesperson.

The group referred to Askari as Haj Abu Ali al-Askari and described his death as martyrdom.

This attack on diplomatic facilities came shortly after Kataeb Hezbollah's announcement.

Separate reports revealed that Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) had suffered casualties in strikes, with at least eight PMF fighters killed in air strikes in al-Qaim near Syria.

The violence represents Iraq's deeper entanglement in the broader Middle East conflict.

The conflict began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched their military campaign against Iran.

In addition to the diplomatic compound and hotel attacks, Iranian-backed militants targeted other strategic locations across Iraq.

Earlier on Monday, two drones targeted the southern Majnoon oilfield, which had already ceased production.

CNN

One drone hit a telecommunications tower and another targeted the offices of a US firm operating at the site.

A strike on a house in Baghdad's al-Jadiriyah neighborhood killed four people.

Initial reports suggested that two of the dead were Iranian advisors to Tehran-backed groups.

In western Iraq near the Syrian border, eight Iraqi fighters from the Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation Forces) were killed in strikes.

These incidents highlight the multi-faceted nature of the conflict.

Iraq has been drawn deeper into the regional proxy war between the United States and Iran.

In response to the escalating violence, Iraqi security forces deployed heavily across parts of the capital.

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Baghdad's fortified Green Zone was temporarily closed, housing government buildings and diplomatic missions including the US Embassy.

CNN International

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani denounced the attacks as threats to Iraq's 'security and stability.'

He promised security services would 'hunt down the perpetrators of these acts and bring them to justice immediately.'

Despite Iraq's declared neutrality in the regional conflict, the country continues to serve as a proxy battleground.

National security adviser Qassem al-Araji told EU ambassadors that Iraq 'is not part of the regional conflict and is committed to protecting diplomatic missions.'

Strikes increasingly target Iran-backed groups that have claimed daily attacks on US interests in Iraq and across the region.