World

Drones, rockets fired at US embassy in Baghdad

By AAP Newswire

Mar 17, 2026

Smoke rises from the U.S. embassy building in Baghdad — At least ‌five drones have been launched at the US embassy in Baghdad. -AP

Rockets and at least ‌five drones have been launched at the US embassy in Baghdad from areas around the city, Iraqi security sources ‌say.

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They described the attack early on Tuesday as the most intense since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran.

A Reuters witness saw at least three drones heading in the direction of the ‌embassy.

The ‌C-RAM air ⁠defence system shot down two of them while a third struck inside the embassy compound, from which fire and smoke could be seen rising, the witness said.

An explosion was heard in the Iraqi capital, another Reuters witness said.

US ⁠embassy mobile phones were ‌switched off when Reuters called seeking comment.

Iranian backed militias have been attacking US ‌interests in Iraq in retaliation for the war which began on February 28.

On Monday, Iran-aligned group Kataib Hezbollah announced the death of its senior commander and spokesperson, and Popular Mobilization Forces said air strikes killed at least ‌eight of its fighters in the Iraqi town of al-Qaim near Syria.

Iraqi security forces have been deployed across parts of the capital and closed Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, which houses government buildings and diplomatic missions including the US embassy.