U.S. Embassy in Iraq Under Attack, Press Corps Residence Affected: Flames Soar at Scene

Early morning on the 17th local time, the U.S. Embassy in the Green Zone of Baghdad, Iraq, was attacked, and facilities inside caught fire. Since the evening of the 16th until early the 17th, the U.S. Embassy in Iraq has been subjected to multiple rounds of attacks. On the evening of the 16th, the Rashid Hotel in the Green Zone was hit by an airstrike, and Xinhua reporters’ residence was also located in this hotel. Inside the hotel, the rooms shook noticeably. Reporters on the scene saw large flashes of fire and smoke outside the windows caused by explosions. An official from Iraq’s Ministry of Interior confirmed to Xinhua reporters that the attack hit the top floor of the Rashid Hotel, with no casualties reported so far. The Rashid Hotel houses several Arab embassies in Iraq and is occupied by diplomats from multiple countries and international organizations. Later that day, the Green Zone was attacked again, prompting the U.S. Embassy in Iraq’s air defense system to activate and intercept aerial targets. Witnesses reported that a drone was successfully intercepted. The Green Zone is home to Baghdad’s main government agencies and foreign embassies. In recent days, the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, Baghdad International Airport, and surrounding areas have been repeatedly attacked. (Xinhua)