Strikes Near Baghdad Prison Raise Security Fears of High-Risk Terror Inmates, Justice Ministry Says

Peregraf — Iraq's Justice Ministry warned on Sunday that repeated strikes near a major prison facility in Baghdad have raised concerns about the security of the site, which houses some of the country's most dangerous terrorism convicts.

In a statement, the ministry said areas surrounding Baghdad International Airport and the nearby Karkh Central Prison — also known as Airport Prison — have been subjected to multiple strikes over the past few days, with several landing dangerously close to the detention facility.

According to the ministry, the most intense wave occurred on Sunday evening. "Since 6:00 PM, six strikes have been recorded, some of which landed near the prison," the statement said, warning that such incidents could pose a threat to the security of the facility.

Officials said the proximity of the projectiles raises concerns about the potential impact on the prison's security arrangements, as the site holds high-risk inmates convicted of terrorism-related offenses.

"While we reassure our dear citizens that the security measures implemented by our ministry's staff and the heroic security forces are robust and reassuring, the landing of projectiles near the prison site is a cause for concern," the ministry said.

It added that repeated attacks in the surrounding area could affect precautionary security measures designed to protect the prison or potentially damage the facility's infrastructure.

Located near Baghdad's main airport, Karkh Central Prison holds some of Iraq's most dangerous detainees, including individuals convicted on terrorism charges.

Authorities have not yet identified who was responsible for the strikes, and it remains unclear whether the attacks caused casualties or material damage.

The incidents come amid escalating regional tensions tied to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, now in its 16th day. In recent weeks, several factions within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) — also known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq — have carried out drone and missile attacks on U.S. diplomatic missions and military facilities in Iraq in support of Iran.

In response, a number of PMF bases — part of a force that began as a paramilitary coalition but is now formally integrated into Iraq's state security structure — have been targeted in retaliatory strikes that have resulted in dozens of casualties. Some of those attacks have been attributed to the United States and Israel, though neither Washington nor Tel Aviv has publicly claimed responsibility.