Daijiworld Media Network - Baghdad

Baghdad, Mar 21: A fire broke out at a United States diplomatic facility near Baghdad airport in Iraq, according to security sources cited by Reuters, amid escalating regional tensions.

A pro-Iranian militant group, Ashab al-Kahf, later claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement. Visuals circulating online showed a large blaze, with thick black smoke billowing into the night sky.

Earlier, the Middle East Broadcasting Network reported that air defence systems were activated over the US embassy to intercept incoming threats.

In a related development, Kataib Hezbollah — designated as a terrorist organisation by the United States — had on Wednesday announced a temporary five-day suspension of its attacks on the US embassy. The group said the pause was conditional on a “US commitment not to strike residential areas in Baghdad and other provinces.”

Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba are among the ?????? Iran-aligned groups targeting US interests in the region. Both have been actively involved in the ongoing conflict alongside Iran and have carried out multiple strikes in Iraq and elsewhere.

Iraq has been drawn deeper into the wider regional conflict following the US-Israel strikes on Iran on February 28. Since then, retaliatory attacks have intensified, with Iran-backed groups launching frequent strikes on US-linked sites across the region.

On Thursday, the Pentagon confirmed for the first time that combat helicopters were used in operations targeting pro-Iranian armed groups in Iraq as part of the ongoing escalation.