A drone struck a major U.S. diplomatic facility near Baghdad International Airport on Tuesday, according to reports citing U.S. and security sources. The attack, suspected to be retaliation by pro-Iran militias amid the escalating U.S.-Israel war against Iran, involved six drones launched toward the compound, with five intercepted and one hitting near a guard tower.

The facility, known as the diplomatic support center, serves as a logistical hub for U.S. diplomats and is located near Iraqi military bases at the airport. An internal State Department alert instructed personnel at the site to 'duck and cover' after the impact, but a security official speaking anonymously said they were unaware of any casualties or significant damage. The White House, State Department, and Pentagon had not commented publicly as of late Tuesday.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed factions, is the likely perpetrator, sources indicated, continuing a pattern of attacks on U.S. interests in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that began February 28. No group immediately claimed responsibility for Tuesday's strike.

This incident marks an escalation in assaults on diplomatic sites, following earlier attacks on U.S. military bases and energy infrastructure in Iraq. Over the past week, pro-Iran militias have targeted facilities in Baghdad, Erbil, and Basra, including the Rumaila oil field and Baker Hughes sites. On March 7, Katyusha rockets hit near the main U.S. Embassy in Baghdad's Green Zone, though no casualties were reported there either.

Iraq finds itself caught in the crossfire of the broader regional conflict. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has condemned attacks by 'rogue groups' and ordered security forces to pursue perpetrators, while facing pressure from the Trump administration to curb Iran-linked militias. U.S. strikes have targeted militia sites in areas like Jurf al-Sakhar and Al-Qaim since the war's outset.

The U.S.-Israel campaign against Iran has widened, with strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, military leadership, and infrastructure prompting proxy responses across Iraq, Syria, and the Gulf. Iraqi forces have intercepted numerous drones and missiles aimed at U.S. assets, but the frequency of attacks underscores ongoing vulnerabilities for American personnel in the region.