Powerful blast heard in Iraqi capital as US Embassy activates air defenses

BAGHDAD

A violent explosion was heard Tuesday evening in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, according to an Anadolu correspondent.

The US Embassy in Baghdad activated its air defense system following the blast, the correspondent said.

No information was yet available about the nature of the blast, and there was no comment from Iraqi authorities.

Earlier Tuesday, a group calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed that it had carried out 21 rocket and drone attacks against US bases in Iraq and the region within a single day.

The explosion came as the US and Israel have continued a joint offensive on Iran since Feb. 28, killing so far around 1,300 people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries, which it says are targeting “US military assets,” causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul