US Embassies Targeted in Norway and Iraq Amid Escalating Middle East Conflict
Police in Norway are investigating a large explosion at the US Embassy in Oslo, stating it could have been a terror attack. The incident occurred as rocket fire also struck buildings in both Oslo and Baghdad overnight, marking the second week of the intensifying war in the Middle East.
Norway Police Consider Terrorism Angle
Norwegian authorities confirmed today that they are examining whether the explosion was an act of terrorism. Frode Larsen, head of the police's joint unit for investigation and intelligence, emphasised: But we are not completely stuck on that. We have to be open to the possibility that there may be other causes behind what has happened.
This comes after police described the source of the Oslo explosion and those responsible as unclear. The blast was reported around 1am Sunday local time outside the embassy, with eyewitnesses telling Norwegian outlet Verdens Gang that smoke was seen rising from the area around the compound.
Rocket Attack on US Embassy in Baghdad
In a separate incident, rocket fire aimed at the US Embassy in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad was blamed on rogue groups by local officials. Footage appeared to show a US Army C-RAM interceptor system shooting down the missiles, with a stunning red laser visible across the skies as it neutralised the munitions.
A security source revealed that four rockets were launched toward the embassy. Three were successfully intercepted, but one fell in an open area within the embassy's airbase, specifically on the helicopter landing pad. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani condemned the attack as a terrorist act, ordering security forces to find the perpetrators. He stated: The perpetrators of these attacks are committing an offence against Iraq, its sovereignty, and its security. These rogue groups that operate outside the framework of the law in no way represent the will of the Iraqi people.
This attack marked the first such strike on Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses government offices and diplomatic missions, since US-Israeli strikes on Iran eight days ago. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries in either explosion. Non-emergency staff had been ordered to leave the embassy four days prior amid escalating tensions.
Wider Middle East Conflict Intensifies
The embassy attacks unfold against a backdrop of heightened military action across the region. President Donald Trump admitted he may possibly deploy US troops on the ground in Iran, but noted there would need to be a very good reason for such a move. His comments followed the dignified transfer of six US servicemembers killed in the conflict with Iran.
Meanwhile, Israel launched a fresh wave of airstrikes on Tehran, engulfing the Iranian capital in fireballs and filling skies with plumes of black smoke. Stunning footage on social media showed apocalyptic scenes, with the Israeli military stating it was entering a new phase by targeting Iranian oil refineries and storage sites. One strike hit an oil refinery, sparking a huge fireball.
Hours earlier, Iran retaliated with strikes at Gulf neighbours, including debris from an intercepted missile striking the luxury 23 Marina skyscraper in Dubai. In a separate Dubai incident, one man was killed after debris from an aerial interception fell on his car, and the airport was evacuated following an Iranian drone attack.
Diplomatic and Military Tensions Rise
Iran's de facto leader Ali Larijani, in a furious speech to state media, vowed that the United States must pay the price for killing late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and refused to cede to Trump's demands for unconditional surrender. He asserted: Americans must know that we will not let them go. When the enemy attacks us from military bases in the region, we will respond, this is our right and our policy. We don’t want the region to be destabilized but the essence of this war will destabilize the region.
Larijani, who many consider the most powerful man in Iran after Khamenei's assassination, also made unverified claims on social media, alleging that American soldiers have been taken prisoner and accusing Trump of lying about US military deaths. US Central Command dismissed these as lies and deceptions, stating: The Iranian regime’s claims of capturing American soldiers are yet another example of its lies and deceptions.
The reciprocal strikes threaten to spiral the conflict out of control, with Trump earlier warning of a potential mega-strike dubbed the big one. As investigations continue in Oslo and Baghdad, the situation remains volatile, with global attention fixed on the escalating violence and its implications for international security.
