Drones, rockets fired at US embassy in Baghdad, security sources say

BAGHDAD, March 17 (Reuters) – Rockets and at least five drones were launched at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad early on Tuesday from areas around the city, Iraqi security sources said, describing the attack as the most intense since the start of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.

A Reuters witness saw at least three drones heading in the direction of the embassy. The C-RAM air defence system shot down two of them while a third struck inside the embassy compound, from which fire and smoke could be seen rising, the witness said.

An explosion was heard in the Iraqi capital, another Reuters witness said.

U.S. embassy mobile phones were switched off when Reuters called seeking comment.

Iranian backed militias have been attacking U.S. interests in Iraq in retaliation for the war which began on February 28.

On Monday, Iran-aligned group Kataib Hezbollah announced the death of its senior commander and spokesperson, and Popular Mobilization Forces said air strikes killed at least eight of its fighters in the Iraqi town of al-Qaim near Syria.

Iraqi security forces have been deployed across parts of the capital and closed Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone, which houses government buildings and diplomatic missions including the U.S. embassy.

(Reporting by Maher Nazeh and Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by Tom Hogue and Christopher Cushing)