By: Sunday Ameh
A missile has struck a helipad inside the United States embassy compound in Baghdad, Iraq, according to Iraqi security officials.
Two security officials confirmed the incident on Saturday, noting that the missile landed within the sprawling diplomatic complex located in the Iraqi capital.
Footage released by the Associated Press showed a column of smoke rising above the embassy compound shortly after the strike.
The US embassy complex in Baghdad is one of the largest diplomatic facilities in the world and has previously been targeted by rockets and drones launched by Iran-aligned militia groups.
Images circulating online also showed smoke and dust rising from the area following the explosion, raising fresh concerns about security around the diplomatic facility.
As of the time of filing this report, the United States embassy in Baghdad had not issued an official statement regarding the incident or possible casualties.
The attack comes amid heightened security concerns in Iraq. On Friday, the US embassy renewed its Level Four security alert, warning American citizens against travelling to the country due to potential threats from Iran and allied militia groups.
The embassy noted that such groups had previously carried out attacks targeting US citizens, interests and infrastructure, warning that similar attacks could occur again.
The latest development also follows another incident earlier in the week in which four crew members were confirmed dead after a US military refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq.
In a statement released on Friday, the United States Central Command said the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker went down around 2 p.m. Eastern Time on March 12 while conducting operations in the region.
The situation has further heightened tensions in the Middle East as security concerns continue to grow across the region.
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