Explosions shook Baghdad International Airport after a series of rockets struck the facility and nearby areas. The Baghdad rocket attack injured several airport workers and security personnel. The Baghdad rocket attack has also raised new concerns about security at one of Iraq’s most critical transport hubs.
Iraqi authorities confirmed that five rockets targeted the airport and surrounding locations around 7:00 PM local time. Officials reported that four airport employees and security staff suffered injuries. An engineer working near the facility was also wounded during the strike.
Emergency teams responded quickly to the scene. Medical staff transported the injured individuals to nearby hospitals for treatment. Security forces then secured the impacted areas to prevent further damage.
Several rockets struck different parts of the airport complex and surrounding infrastructure. One projectile hit part of the airport facility, while another struck a nearby water desalination plant. Other rockets landed close to a prison where suspected Islamic State members remain in detention.
Additional rockets also fell near an Iraqi airbase located beside a US diplomatic and logistics compound. Authorities reported that some projectiles landed inside the military section of the airport complex. Security officials immediately began assessing the damage.
Investigators later discovered the launch site used for the attack. Security forces seized the rocket launchpad in the al-Radwaniya district southwest of Baghdad. Officials believe attackers fired the rockets from that area before abandoning the equipment.
Security sources reported a second wave of attacks later that night. Rockets and drones again targeted the airport around midnight, increasing fears of escalation. Authorities launched further investigations following the renewed assault.
Baghdad International Airport includes a large military complex with several bases. Iraqi army units and national security services operate inside the facility. The site also hosts a US diplomatic and logistical compound as well as a central detention center.
Iraq has faced increasing instability since the outbreak of wider regional conflict. Authorities closed national airspace and suspended most commercial flights earlier in the crisis. These measures aimed to protect aviation safety during heightened tensions.
Armed groups supported by Iran have claimed responsibility for several recent rocket and drone attacks. These groups frequently target US facilities across Iraq, including installations near Baghdad airport. Security officials continue monitoring such threats closely.
Iraq’s Justice Ministry warned earlier that attacks near the airport could threaten nearby detention centers. The al-Karkh central prison holds thousands of Islamic State suspects transferred recently from Syria. Any strike near the facility could create serious security risks.
The U.S. embassy in Baghdad also faced a separate security incident one day earlier. A drone struck the diplomatic compound on Saturday. On the same day, airstrikes blamed on the United States reportedly killed three Iran-aligned fighters in the capital.
Authorities have increased patrols and security operations around major infrastructure sites. Investigators now continue searching for those responsible for the Baghdad rocket attack. Officials stress that protecting airports, prisons, and diplomatic sites remains a top priority.
