Iran-backed groups targeted U.S. facilities in Iraq 600 times, U.S. official says

Source: NBC News

May 7, 2026, 5:04 PM EDT


WASHINGTON - The U.S. is urging the Iraqi government to break with Tehran-backed militia groups and has sanctioned Iraqi officials over their ties with Iran, following more than 600 attacks against U.S. diplomatic facilities in Iraq since the start of the U.S. and Israel-led war, according to the State Department and a senior state department official.

One facility, the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center, which is a logistics hub for U.S. diplomats, has been targeted by repeated drone strikes and was hit in mid-March. As recently as Tuesday, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad urged Americans to leave Iraq, warning that “militias continue to plot additional attacks against U.S. citizens and targets associated with the United States throughout Iraq.”

Videos from some of the attacks in Baghdad show smoke rising from a facility near the airport in April, and a fire on the roof of the embassy in March.

The State Department on Thursday announced it sanctioned Iraq’s Deputy Minister of Oil Ali Maarij al-Bahadly, arguing he had abused his position to divert Iraqi oil in support of the Iranian regime. Iranian oil was mixed with Iraqi oil and sold for Iran’s benefit, spokesman Tommy Pigott said. Oil sector companies that support militias were also hit with sanctions. Iraq’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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