Separate strikes near Baghdad International Airport wounded five Iraqis, as rockets and drones targeted infrastructure and security facilities. The attacks are believed to be linked to Iran-aligned militias, escalating tensions amid the broader regional conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran.
BY PC Bureau
March 17: A fresh wave of drone and rocket attacks struck multiple high-profile, US-linked sites across Baghdad overnight, including the US Embassy Baghdad, the Al-Rasheed Hotel, and facilities near Baghdad International Airport, in what officials describe as one of the most intense coordinated assaults in recent weeks.
The attacks come against the backdrop of heightened regional tensions linked to the ongoing US-Israel military campaign against Iran, with Iran-aligned militias in Iraq increasingly targeting American and allied installations.
Embassy, Green Zone Under Fire
According to Iraqi security sources, multiple drones and Katyusha-style rockets targeted the US Embassy compound inside Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone late Monday night and into the early hours of Tuesday.
Air defence systems, including the embassy’s C-RAM interceptors, were activated as sirens echoed across the International Zone. While most incoming projectiles were reportedly intercepted, at least one struck داخل the compound, triggering fire and smoke.
Witnesses described the barrage as among the heaviest on the embassy since the current regional conflict escalated in late February. Iraqi authorities imposed an immediate lockdown across the Green Zone, sealing access roads with armoured vehicles.
During today’s attack on the Al-Rashid Hotel in #Baghdad, the upper floors were damaged. It is there that the headquarters of the EUAM Iraq mission of the European Union is located. According to another version, the headquarters of the logistics support service of the US Embassy. pic.twitter.com/xEUeWUJDYn
— Tesla Dogs (@TeslaDogs) March 16, 2026
Drone Strike Hits Diplomatic Hotel
Earlier in the evening, an explosive-laden drone struck the Al-Rasheed Hotel, a high-security complex located near the embassy and used by foreign diplomatic missions, including European and Gulf delegations.
Officials from Iraq’s Interior Ministry said the drone collided with an upper structure of the building, causing limited damage and no reported casualties. Security forces swiftly cordoned off the area and launched an investigation.
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Airport, Military Sites Also Targeted
In a related series of attacks over the past 48 hours, rockets and drones struck areas around Baghdad International Airport and the nearby Victory Base, a key logistical hub used by US personnel.
At least five rockets hit the airport vicinity, including a water desalination facility and areas near an Iraqi airbase. Five Iraqis—among them airport staff and security personnel—were injured. Several drones were intercepted mid-air, officials said.
Separate attempted attacks were also reported on the US consulate in Erbil, while another strike targeted a site in Jurf al-Sakher in Babylon province.
Escalation Linked To Iran Conflict
The attacks are widely believed to be part of an ongoing campaign by Iran-aligned armed groups operating under the banner of the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” which includes factions linked to the Popular Mobilisation Forces.
These groups have claimed dozens of similar strikes on US bases and diplomatic sites since the escalation between Washington, Israel, and Tehran began in late February. While no organisation has formally claimed responsibility for the latest wave, officials say the pattern closely matches previous militia operations.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani condemned the attacks, warning they pose a serious threat to national stability and diplomatic security.
The United States, meanwhile, blamed Iran-backed militias and reiterated calls for the Iraqi government to take stronger action. The embassy has issued repeated high-level security alerts, urging American citizens to leave Iraq immediately.
Despite limited damage and no reported US casualties in the latest strikes, the frequency and scale of attacks have raised concerns of further escalation. Iraqi security forces remain on high alert, monitoring for additional threats as tensions across the region continue to intensify.
