Missile Hits Helipad Inside U.S. Embassy Compound in Baghdad

Iraqi security officials say a missile struck a helipad inside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Saturday morning, sending a column of smoke over one of Washington’s largest and most heavily fortified diplomatic outposts. Associated Press footage from the scene shows smoke rising from within the compound, which has been repeatedly targeted in recent years by rockets and drones fired by Iran‑aligned militias. There were no immediate details on damage or casualties, and the U.S. Embassy has so far declined public comment. The strike came a day after the embassy renewed its Level 4 security alert for Iraq, warning that Iran and its allied militias have previously attacked U.S. citizens, interests and infrastructure in the country and may continue to do so. The incident underscores how the wider Iran war and militia campaign are directly threatening U.S. diplomatic facilities and personnel in Iraq, heightening security risks and raising questions about the long‑term viability of the U.S. presence in Baghdad’s Green Zone.