US Embassy in Baghdad hit by attack, hotel damaged in response

Drone Strike Hits Baghdad’s Green Zone Hotel

A drone strike occurred at the Al-Rasheed hotel in Baghdad’s Green Zone on Monday evening, causing damage but no casualties. The incident took place amid reports that Iraqi air defenses intercepted an attack over the US Embassy in the area.

According to two Iraqi security officials, cited by the Associated Press news agency, the top floor of the hotel was targeted. Security sources also reported that two Katyusha rockets had been intercepted near the US Embassy earlier in the evening.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The incident follows a series of events involving Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah and other groups operating in Iraq. Earlier on Monday, the group announced the killing of Abu Ali Al-Askari, a prominent security official.

Additionally, six PMF fighters were killed in separate strikes in western Iraq’s Anbar province, and two others were killed at the headquarters of a PMF brigade in the same area. Two Iraqi security officials also reported that the Majnoon oilfield was targeted by drones in southern Basra province, with no casualties or damage reported.

Iraqi Minister of Oil Hayan Abdul-Ghani stated that a pipeline from Kirkuk to Turkiye would be operational within a week, allowing the country to resume its oil exports. Meanwhile, air defenses intercepted and shot down a drone near Erbil airport in northern Iraq.

Source: Al Jazeera