US accuses Iran-aligned militias of attacking diplomatic site in Baghdad

The U.S. Embassy in Iraq Friday accused Iran-linked militia groups of carrying out an attack earlier this week on a U.S. diplomatic compound at Baghdad International Airport.

In a statement, the embassy said: “On Tuesday, September 10, the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Compound, a U.S. diplomatic facility, was attacked.”

“There were no reported casualties,” it added, noting that “indications are the attack was initiated by Iran-aligned militia groups, which operate freely in Iraq.”

It emphasized that it reserves “the right to self-defense and to protect our personnel anywhere in the world.”

The attack comes at a time of heightened regional tensions, with the war in Gaza escalating and just a day before a visit by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Iraq.

The U.S. Embassy called on the Iraqi government to “protect diplomatic and Coalition partner personnel and facilities.”

U.S. diplomatic and military sites in Iraq have long been targets of violence.