On the night of June 16, 2025, the situation in the capital of Iraq escalated sharply when pro-Iranian armed groups attempted to storm the United States embassy in Baghdad. According to Iraqi sources, hundreds of protesters associated with Shiite militia groups gathered in the city's "green zone", where diplomatic missions and government offices are located. The attack was accompanied by explosions and sirens, causing panic among local residents and increasing fears of a possible escalation of the conflict in the region.

Iraqi security forces stationed near the embassy used tear gas and fired warning shots to control the crowd. According to Reuters, protesters set fire to several checkpoints near the diplomatic compound and threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at the embassy compound. Despite the violent clashes, there are no reports of the attackers getting inside the embassy. The US Embassy in Baghdad confirmed the attack, saying all personnel were safe and the facility was on high alert.

The attack comes amid a sharp deterioration in US-Iran relations. Days before the incident, Iran launched a series of missile strikes on Israel, one of which caused minor damage to the US embassy building in Tel Aviv. According to Newsweek, this became the reason for the strengthening of security measures at American diplomatic missions across the Middle East. In addition, on June 11, the US State Department announced a partial evacuation of non-essential personnel from the embassy in Baghdad, citing threats from the Iranian government and groups it backs. According to Bloomberg, the decision was made after Tehran declared its readiness to strike American facilities in the event of an escalation of the conflict with Israel.

Pro-Iranian militias, including groups affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi), have repeatedly accused the US of supporting Israeli military operations and violating Iraqi sovereignty. According to Al Jazeera, the protests outside the embassy began after Shiite leaders called for revenge for recent airstrikes, which they claimed were carried out from US bases in the region.