, March 14 -- A missile struck a helipad inside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad, security officials said. The projectile landed within the embassy grounds, located in the heavily fortified Green Zone, which hosts Iraqi government offices and foreign missions.

Video footage obtained by The Associated Press showed smoke rising from the compound. No immediate comment was issued by the embassy following the strike.

On Friday, the embassy had renewed its Level 4 security alert, citing threats from Iran and Iran-aligned militia groups, which have previously targeted U.S. personnel, facilities, and infrastructure, and may continue to do so.

The sprawling embassy complex, among the largest U.S. diplomatic facilities worldwide, has been re...