Drone attack reported at the United States embassy compound in Baghdad

Drone attack reported at the United States embassy compound in Baghdad

Drone attack reported at the United States embassy compound in Baghdad

An attack has been reported at the United States embassy compound in Baghdad the capital of Iraq on Saturday morning according to security officials and witnesses

The incident came shortly after two separate strikes targeted members of the Iran backed armed group Katia Hezbollah in different parts of Baghdad

Local sources said three members of the group including a senior field commander were killed in those earlier attacks

The commander who died in the strike has been identified as Abu Ali al Amira

The attacks happened amid rising tensions across the Middle East following military action against Iran that was reportedly carried out by the United States and Israel on February twenty eight

Observers say the developments have increased fears that the wider region could be drawn deeper into a growing confrontation between Iran and its regional allies on one side and the United States and Israel on the other

A journalist from Agency France Presse who was near the diplomatic area in Baghdad reported hearing loud explosions early on Saturday morning

Soon after the explosions large plumes of black smoke were seen rising from inside the heavily fortified diplomatic zone where the United States embassy is located

Two Iraqi security officials told the news agency that the embassy compound appeared to have been targeted by unmanned aerial drones

No immediate statement has been issued by the United States embassy about the incident and it is not yet clear whether there were any casualties or damage inside the diplomatic complex

This is believed to be the second time the United States embassy in Baghdad has been targeted since the latest escalation of conflict in the region began

Iraq has long been seen as a key arena for the indirect conflict between the United States and Iran

Over the past two decades several Iran aligned armed factions have built strong influence in Iraq particularly within the country security landscape

Many of those groups operate under a loose umbrella network known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq

These factions have repeatedly claimed responsibility for drone and rocket attacks against American military bases and diplomatic facilities across Iraq and in nearby areas

The earlier strikes that killed members of Kataib Hezbollah reportedly took place in two different locations in Baghdad

The first attack targeted a house in the Arabsat neighborhood which local residents say had quietly been used by members of the armed group

About two hours later a second strike hit a vehicle in the Nahrawan district on the outskirts of the city

Initial reports from security officials suggested that two fighters had been killed

However a source close to Iran aligned groups later confirmed that the number of people killed in the house strike had risen to three

Following the deaths supporters of Kataib Hezbollah organized a funeral procession in Baghdad for the fighters who were killed including commander Abu Ali al Amira

Local media outlets also reported that another senior figure within the organization Ahmed al Haidari may have been wounded during the strike on the house

Sources close to Iran backed groups described the attack as a possible attempt to assassinate key figures within the organization

Residents living near the targeted house said the building appeared ordinary and attracted little attention

One resident said people in the neighborhood were unaware that the property had been taken over by members of Kataib Hezbollah

No group has claimed responsibility for the strikes on the Iran aligned faction

Neither the United States nor Israel has commented publicly on the operation

The Kataribe Hezbollah organization has also not issued any official statement regarding the incident

Analysts say the latest developments highlight the fragile security situation in Iraq as tensions between regional powers continue to rise and armed groups remain active across the country