The US Embassy in Baghdad came under direct attack amid escalating hostilities between the United States and Iran, as a missile struck a helipad within the sprawling diplomatic compound and a drone strike was also reported, sending plumes of smoke rising from the site.
Iraqi security officials confirmed to the Associated Press that the missile hit the helipad inside the US Embassy complex in Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone. An Iraqi official told AFP, “A drone hit the embassy,” with witnesses and another source verifying the incident. No immediate casualties were reported from the embassy attack, though explosions rattled nearby areas, including the Zayouna district, where a fresh blast shook homes.
The strikes followed US military actions against Iran, including President Donald Trump’s announcement of a major bombing raid on Iran’s strategic Kharg Island oil hub. Trump described the operation as “one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East,” claiming it “totally obliterated” military targets. He posted video footage on Truth Social and warned that US Navy escorts for tankers would begin soon, adding that any Iranian interference with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would prompt reconsideration of restraint on targeting oil facilities.
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Iran’s response included claims by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that four ballistic missiles struck the USS Abraham Lincoln, assertions dismissed by US Central Command (CENTCOM) as “recycled lies,” with the carrier strike group said to maintain dominance over Iranian airspace. Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters warned that attacks on its oil infrastructure would lead to the destruction of US-linked or cooperating energy assets across the region, turning them “into a pile of ashes.”
Regional fallout intensified, with Iran launching drones and missiles toward Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf states. Qatar intercepted incoming threats and issued temporary evacuation alerts for areas like Musheireb, later clarifying they applied only to specified zones with alternative accommodations provided. The US State Department ordered nonemergency government employees and families to depart Oman due to safety concerns, issuing a Level 3 travel advisory.
Broader impacts included halted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—critical for 20% of global crude and LNG—and Brent crude prices surging above $100 per barrel. The US released 172 million barrels from its strategic petroleum reserve, with initial deliveries set for the following week in coordination with the International Energy Agency.
Iranian forces reportedly continued operations on Kharg Island despite smoke and explosions, with defenses reactivated, according to Fars news agency and Al Jazeera sources. No significant damage to oil infrastructure was confirmed there.
The Baghdad embassy incident underscores the risks to US diplomatic facilities from Iran-aligned militias, amid a conflict that has seen repeated targeting of American interests across the Middle East.
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