Drone strike hits the Finnish embassy building in Baghdad as tensions escalate across Iraq’s capital, raising concerns about the safety of diplomatic missions in the region. The strike struck the Al-Rasheed hotel inside Baghdad’s Green Zone, a fortified district hosting multiple embassies and government offices. Finland’s foreign ministry confirmed that its embassy operates from the building and that staff are safe.
Officials said embassy personnel were unharmed and remained in contact with authorities. No injuries were reported, and damage to the building appeared limited, though the full structural impact is not yet clear.
The Green Zone is home to key diplomatic missions, including the United States embassy, which was targeted in a separate attack hours later. Reuters reported drones and rockets striking the US compound, with at least one drone entering the premises. At this time, no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Finland reopened its embassy in Baghdad in 2018 after years of limited diplomatic presence. The foreign ministry emphasized that it continues to assess the security of its missions as conditions in the Middle East and Gulf deteriorate. “The security situation has weakened,” the ministry said, noting that operational capacity and staff safety remain under review.
The attacks come amid broader political fallout. Joseph Kent, director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, resigned in protest over the ongoing war in Iran. In a statement addressed to President Donald Trump, Kent said he could not support the conflict in good conscience, describing Iran as posing no immediate threat to the United States and criticizing the decision to launch hostilities.
Finnish authorities have not announced any evacuation of staff. Future decisions will depend on ongoing assessments of the security environment in Baghdad.
