The U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad came under attack Saturday, March 14, 2026, when a projectile struck the facility inside the Iraqi capital’s heavily fortified Green Zone. No injuries were reported.
Iraqi security officials told the Associated Press the strike hit a helipad within the embassy complex, one of the largest American diplomatic installations anywhere in the world. Smoke was seen rising from the compound after the impact, and footage circulating on social media showed flames and thick plumes rising from inside the facility, according to reports.
Early reports offered conflicting explanations for what exactly struck the compound. An Iraqi security source cited by Al Jazeera said the attack damaged part of the embassy’s air defense system. Other accounts, including reporting from Agence France-Presse, suggested the strike may have been carried out by a drone rather than a missile.
The Baghdad embassy has been a frequent target in recent weeks as tensions across the Middle East intensify. Iran-aligned militia groups operating in Iraq have repeatedly launched rockets and drones toward the Green Zone, the secure district that houses Iraqi government buildings and foreign diplomatic missions.
Later Saturday, the U.S. Embassy issued an urgent security alert through its official channels, including a message posted to Twitter, warning American citizens in Iraq to leave the country immediately.
Security Alert – U.S. Embassy Baghdad, Iraq – March 15, 2026
Location: Iraq
Updates noted in bold. Additional information for crossing into Kuwait and Saudi Arabia has been added.
Iran-aligned terrorist militias have encouraged and conducted indiscriminate attacks on U.S.…— U.S. Embassy Baghdad (@USEmbBaghdad) March 15, 2026
“Iran-aligned terrorist militias have repeatedly attacked the International Zone in central Baghdad,” embassy officials wrote. “The International Zone remains closed, with limited exceptions. There have also been repeated attacks in the area around the Erbil International Airport and the Consulate General.”
“Do not attempt to come to the embassy in Baghdad or the consulate general in Erbil in light of the ongoing risk of missiles, drones, and rockets in Iraqi airspace,” officials added.
The warning comes as the broader regional crisis continues to expand. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a coordinated military operation against Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate with missile and drone strikes against U.S. bases and allied targets across the Middle East.
In the weeks since, American diplomatic facilities throughout the region have faced mounting threats. The United States has already closed embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait after attacks on those compounds, while the embassy in Beirut was shuttered amid escalating clashes involving Hezbollah and Israel.
The State Department has also issued sweeping travel advisories urging Americans to leave much of the Middle East due to what officials describe as “serious safety risks.” The warning applies to Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Officials have advised Americans still in the region to consider overland travel routes to countries where commercial flights remain operational.
As of Saturday evening, the U.S. government had not issued a formal statement on the attack itself, though inquiries have been directed to the State Department.
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