SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region — The US giant Caterpillar branch and the Cambridge Institute in Baghdad were both targeted by bombs last night, a security source revealed to Iraqi media outlets.
The attacks in the Al-Jadriya neighborhood and Palestine Street in the city center resulted in no casualties, though they did cause material damage to the buildings.
A video circulating on social media depicts the moment security forces arrived at the Caterpillar site to investigate the attack.
🚨استهداف (شركة كتربلر) الاميركية في المجمع الرئاسي بالجادرية في قلب بغداد
💥وصابرين نيوز توثق لحظات مابعد الحادث.#العراق pic.twitter.com/H3lWa82SU0
— Raad Hashim (@raad_arabi) May 29, 2024
The attacks occurred just three days after two Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurants in Baghdad were targeted, resulting in damage but no injuries. According to the interior ministry and police sources, Iraqi security forces have arrested several suspects.
They also align with a recent call by the prominent Iraqi Shiite cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, urging the Iraqi government to close the U.S. Embassy and expel its ambassador. Al-Sadr cited America’s support for Israel in its conflict with the Palestinian people as the reason for his demand.
He vehemently condemned the recent Israeli airstrikes on the Rafah camp in Gaza in a post on X on Tuesday.
In a televised address on Wednesday, he also condemned Israel for committing “genocide” in Gaza and criticized the United States for its support, labeling its promises of democracy as “deceptive” and accusing the West of having a “double-standard” policy towards Palestinians.
