An explosive-laden drone targeted the Rasheed Hotel, also known as the Royal Tulip Hotel, in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, security sources confirmed. The attack, which struck the rooftop of the building, resulted in material damage but caused no casualties.
The hotel serves as a residence for several foreign diplomatic missions, including those of the European Union and Saudi Arabia, as well as foreign employees of various oil companies. The site is located in close proximity to the US Embassy, reports Al Jazeera.
In response to the strike, security forces have been heavily deployed throughout the area, blocking all access roads to the Green Zone with armoured vehicles and barricades.
The incident occurred alongside other regional flashpoints. In Erbil, another drone attack was intercepted before it could reach the US consulate. Simultaneously, a location belonging to the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) in the Jurf al-Sakher area of Babylon province was targeted.
These developments follow a recent attack in al Qaim, believed to have been conducted by the US and Israel, which targeted PMF locations and resulted in a number of personnel being killed or wounded.
Since the commencement of the US-Israel campaign against Iran, armed groups aligned with Tehran have reportedly targeted US military bases and facilities – including the embassy in Baghdad and the Erbil consulate – dozens of times.
