Drone strike rocks major US diplomatic facility in Baghdad as Iraqi militias enter the fray in widening war with Iran

A suspected Iranian drone struck a major US diplomatic facility in Baghdad on Tuesday, according to a report from The Washington Post.

The drone struck the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center, a large logistical and operational support hub used by US diplomats near Iraqi military bases and Baghdad International Airport.

Six drones were launched toward the facility, with five intercepted and one striking near a guard tower, according to a security official cited by the Post.

No casualties were immediately reported, as individuals were ordered to 'duck and cover.'

The attack is suspected to have been carried out by militias operating under the umbrella of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iranian-backed groups that have increased their attacks since the United States and Israel first struck Iran on February 28.

The incident came after the US Embassy in Baghdad urged American citizens to 'exercise caution, avoid drawing attention, and stay away from areas that could make them a target.'

'Gathering in areas associated with the United States or with groups of other American citizens may put you at risk,' it said in an alert, noting: 'Attacks against American citizens and interests in Iraq have occurred.

'Americans face a risk of kidnapping, and American companies, hotels frequented by foreigners, and other facilities in Iraq, including those with ties to the United States, have been targeted in attacks. Critical sites throughout Iraq have also been targeted in attacks.'

Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's new Supreme Leader, is 'safe and sound' despite reports of being wounded, the son of the Iranian president has claimed.

'I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei (pictured) had been injured. I have asked some friends who had connections.

'They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound,' said Yousef Pezeshkian, who is also a government adviser, in a post on his Telegram channel.

State television had called Khamenei a 'wounded veteran of the Ramadan war' but never specified his injury.

The new leader is the son and successor of longtime ruler Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.

by Perkin Amalaraj

A cargo ship has been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UKMTO.

The attack from an 'unknown projectile', which was reported at 4.35am GMT, happened 11 nautical miles north of Oman and resulted in a fire onboard the ship.

The UKMTO, a maritime monitor, said crew are evacuating the vessel.

It added: 'Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO while authorities continue to investigate.'

No group or military has yet claimed responsibility.

It comes after American forces destroyed 16 Iranian minelaying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.

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A cargo ship is on fire in the Strait of Hormuz after being struck by an unknown projectile, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations.

The vessel has requested assistance and its crew are evacuating, the maritime authority said.

The announcement came just hours after another container ship was struck off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.

A total of six members of the Iranian women’s soccer team will remain in Australia, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said, after one of the squad members earlier granted asylum changed her mind and planned to return to Iran.

A group that calls itself the 'Patriotic Doctors of Iran' has sent the Trump administration a letter endorsing exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi as the country's next leader.

'We, Iranian physicians, researchers and healthcare professionals in the diaspora, members of the Patriotic Doctors of Iran, write as healers bound by the Hippocratic Oath to oppose suffering and injustice,' the letter reads.

'The Islamic Republic has turned medicine into a tool of repression: denying care to protesters, imprisoning doctors for treating the wounded and causing countless preventable deaths. We have watched our homeland endure brutality while its people courageously demand freedom,' the group continued.

'Today, Iranians inside and outside Iran increasingly look to Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi as a unifying figure for a peaceful transition. He advocates secular democracy, free elections through a national referendum, the protection of civilians and the preservation of Iran's territorial integrity without seeking personal power.

'As professionals dedicated to life and human dignity, we strongly support Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi's vision,' the group concluded.

'A free and democratic Iran would restore progress in science, medicine and society, benefitting the region and the world,' it noted.

Joe Rogan called the war on Iran 'insane' and said it has led Donald Trump's supporters to 'feel betrayed' by the president.

The podcaster endorsed Trump ahead of the 2024 election but has been critical of some of the major policies of his second term in office.

While talking to journalist Michael Shellenberger on his podcast, Rogan slammed Operation Epic Fury as not matching Trump's campaign rhetoric.

'It just seems so insane based on what he ran on,' Rogan said.

Joe Rogan says MAGA feels 'betrayed' as he turns on Trump over Iran

The podcaster endorsed Trump ahead of the 2024 election but has been critical of some of the major policies of his second term in office.

A container ship was struck early Wednesday morning off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in the Strait of Hormuz, the British military said.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center announced the attack, which it said happened off Ras al-Khaimah, the UAE’s northernmost emirate on the strait.

It said the 'extent of the damage is currently unknown but under investigation by the crew.'

Senator Chris Murphy accused President Donald Trump of seeking the war in Iran to benefit the 'billionaire' class following a classified briefing with administration officials.

He told CNN's Anderson Cooper on Tuesday night that the fact that Trump struck Iran without Congressional approval 'just shows the utter disdain the president has for democracy, for the Constitution and for the people of this country.

'I mean the Founding Fathers were really specific about this - they really worried about an out-of-control megalomaniacal executive sending America into wars overseas without consultation with the people,' the Connecticut Democrat said.

'People don't want this war, especially as gas prices and soon grocery prices go through the roof, especially as more Americans die,' he claimed.

Murphy also accused Trump of 'not caring' about what the American people think.

'If it's good for the billionaire class, it's good for him,' he said.

'This is, again, about Trump having disdain for democracy and caring very little about what regular people out there think.'

The interview came shortly after Murphy claimed on X that he learned at a classified meeting that 'the war goals DO NOT involve destroying Iran's nuclear weapons program' and that the Trump administration 'confirmed "regime change" is also NOT on the list.'

'OK so what ARE the goals? It seems, primarily, destroying lots of missiles and boats and drone factories,' he posted.

'But the question that stumped them: what happens when you stop bombing and they restart production?,' Murphy continued. 'They hinted at more bombing. Which is, of course, endless war.'

Four Iranian diplomats were killed in an Israeli attack in Beirut on Sunday, according to the official IRNA news agency.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations Saeed Iravani wrote a letter to Secretary-General António Guterres condemning the attack and calling it a serious violation of international law.

The four diplomats were killed in an attack on the Ramada Hotel in Beirut, Iravani wrote in the letter, according to IRNA.