The US embassy in Baghdad has been targeted by a wave of drone and rocket attacks as tensions escalate across the Middle East amid the ongoing war involving Iran, according to international media reports.
Security sources in Iraq said the assault on the heavily fortified International Zone in central Baghdad was the most intense attack since such incidents began. The embassy had earlier issued a security alert warning US citizens that Iran-aligned militias had repeatedly targeted the area.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates temporarily closed its airspace after authorities reported incoming missile and drone threats from Iran. The UAE’s civil aviation authority described the move as an exceptional precautionary measure.
The closure came only hours after flights had resumed following a separate disruption at Dubai International Airport. Authorities had earlier suspended operations there after a fire broke out near the airport.
Emirates airline later resumed a reduced flight schedule, while Etihad Airways said it was operating a limited number of commercial flights from Abu Dhabi in coordination with relevant authorities after safety and security assessments.
The developments come as the wider regional conflict continues to escalate, with missile attacks, air strikes and rising security concerns affecting several countries in the Middle East.
With inputs from BBC