BAGHDAD, Iraq — Drones and rockets targeted the United States embassy in Baghdad early Tuesday in what Iraqi security officials described as the most intense assault since the latest wave of regional attacks began.
The embassy, located inside the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, came under attack from multiple aerial threats, with security sources saying at least three drones and four rockets were launched toward the compound.
According to Iraqi officials, at least one drone penetrated the embassy’s defenses and crashed داخل the facility, while others were intercepted.
Witnesses cited by international media said they saw drones flying toward the embassy, with air defense systems shooting down two before a third struck inside the compound.
The escalation comes amid a widening conflict involving Iran, Israel, and allied groups across the region, raising fears of a broader Middle East war.
Regional tensions intensify
The attack in Baghdad follows a series of escalating military actions across the region.
The Israeli military said it had launched a “wide-scale wave of strikes” targeting key cities in Iran, including Tehran, Shiraz, and Tabriz, with videos showing damage in urban areas.
At the same time, Israel confirmed it had begun “limited and targeted ground operations” against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, further heightening tensions along its northern border.
Hezbollah, a powerful Iran-backed militia and political group, has been engaged in cross-border hostilities with Israel, aligning itself with Tehran amid the escalating confrontation.
Global powers divided
World leaders remain split on how to respond to the growing crisis.
Donald Trump said the United States expects greater involvement from allies, particularly within NATO, in securing the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route.
However, Keir Starmer signaled that the United Kingdom would avoid being drawn into a wider war, a stance that drew criticism from Washington.
Meanwhile, Friedrich Merz said the conflict is “not a matter for NATO,” even as the alliance indicated that members had already increased security operations in the Mediterranean.
The United Arab Emirates, which had earlier closed its airspace over security concerns, has since reopened it after assessing reduced immediate threats from missile and drone activity.
Calls to prevent wider war
Leaders from the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy issued a joint statement warning that a major Israeli ground offensive in Lebanon would have “devastating humanitarian consequences.”
They urged both Israel and Lebanon to pursue a “sustainable political solution” and called on Hezbollah to disarm and halt attacks on Israel.
The leaders also warned that further escalation risks triggering a prolonged regional conflict with far-reaching humanitarian and economic impacts.
In Iraq, attacks have continued into Tuesday, with earlier incidents including a drone strike that sparked a fire at a hotel inside Baghdad’s Green Zone.
