Since last Sunday, American restaurants in Baghdad have been under attack by masked individuals and armed men, causing significant concern among locals. Videos documenting these assaults have been widely shared on social media platforms.
The Iraqi Ministry of Interior and police sources announced on Monday that two branches of the "Kentucky Fried Chicken" (KFC) chain were attacked in Baghdad over the past 48 hours. While the attacks resulted in property damage, fortunately, no injuries were reported. Security forces have detained several suspects in connection with the incidents.
Preliminary investigations suggest that these restaurants were targeted due to perceived support by U.S.-based brands for Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In just a span of 24 hours, three American restaurants in Baghdad faced attacks involving bombs and armed assaults, signaling a potentially organized effort with unknown motives.
The first attack occurred early on Sunday when two men on a motorcycle threw a homemade bomb at a KFC branch on Palestine Street, causing minor damage. The next day, another KFC outlet and a second American-style restaurant were stormed by masked men who used sticks to break windows and destroy furniture before fleeing the scene, according to police sources.
In response, Interior Minister Abd al-Amir al-Shammari ordered a series of measures. The Ministry did not clarify the motives behind the attacks but stated in a press release that al-Shammari inspected the sites of the assaults with high-ranking officials, ensuring the reopening of the affected restaurants.
The Ministry also reported the arrest of several suspects and ongoing search operations based on precise intelligence to apprehend the remaining perpetrators. Consequences have been implemented for security forces deemed negligent, including the dismissal and detention of a brigade commander, and disciplinary action against other security personnel.
Although the official reasons for these attacks remain unknown, they followed the killing of approximately 45 Palestinians, mostly women and children, due to an Israeli airstrike on the Al-Salam camp in Rafah’s Mawasi area, which the Israeli military had previously designated as a safe zone.