A U.S. diplomatic compound at Baghdad’s airport was attacked late Tuesday, though no casualties were reported, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy on Wednesday. The embassy confirmed that an explosion occurred at the Baghdad Diplomatic Services Compound and that an assessment of the damage and the cause of the attack was underway.
Iraqi security forces confirmed the explosion but were unable to determine the source. The country’s Joint Operations Command reported that the blast took place in an area occupied by international coalition advisers, though no group has claimed responsibility for the incident. A senior Iraqi military official stated that two Katyusha rockets were believed to be the cause, with one striking near an Iraqi anti-terrorist forces compound and the other inside the international coalition’s base at the airport.
Despite the attack, air traffic at Baghdad’s airport was not disrupted, and flights continued as scheduled. The attack occurred just hours before Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, arrived for a three-day visit to Iraq, marking his first foreign trip since taking office.
U.S. military and diplomatic facilities in Iraq have faced repeated attacks over the years, often attributed to Iran-backed militias or extremist groups. The Baghdad Diplomatic Services Compound was previously targeted in January 2022. Similar incidents in the past have led to retaliatory U.S. airstrikes against militia targets in both Iraq and Syria. The ongoing security challenges have prompted discussions between Iraq and the U.S. regarding the future presence of U.S. forces in the region.
Expanded Coverage:
