Drone attack hits U.S. diplomatic support center at Baghdad int'l airport

Two booby-trapped drones attacked the Victoria Base at Iraq's Baghdad International Airport on Thursday, sparking a fire, a security source said.

An Interior Ministry source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that two drones attacked the Victoria Base in the evening, where the U.S. Embassy's Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center is located, causing a fire.

The details regarding casualties or the extent of the damage remain unavailable, the source added.

The attack followed a security warning issued by the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad earlier Thursday, noting that "Iraqi terrorist militia groups aligned with Iran may intend to conduct attacks in central Baghdad in the next 24 to 48 hours."

The warning further stressed that they may intend to target U.S. citizens, businesses, universities, diplomatic facilities, energy infrastructure, hotels, airports, and other locations perceived to be associated with the United States, adding that "U.S. citizens should leave Iraq now."

The attacks came amid heightened regional tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting on Feb. 28, to which Iran and its regional allies respo