Embassy of the United States, Baghdad, Diplomatic mission in Green Zone, Baghdad, Iraq
The Embassy of the United States sits on 104 acres (42 hectares) inside the Green Zone of Baghdad and is the largest American diplomatic mission in the world. The walled area includes several building complexes with offices, housing units, and technical facilities, as well as wide security zones.
The first American consul arrived in Baghdad in 1888 when the city was still under Ottoman rule. Full embassy status was established in 1946, and in 2009 the mission moved to the current compound.
Hundreds of diplomats and staff live inside the compound in a protected American neighborhood with its own housing blocks and service buildings. The name Green Zone refers to the heavy security around the entire government district surrounding the embassy.
Visitors need advance security clearance and must present valid identification documents before entering the heavily guarded grounds. Access is limited to official appointments and approved events, with no spontaneous visits allowed.
The compound runs its own power generation and water treatment systems to operate fully independent of the city grid. It also maintains a helicopter landing pad for security and supply flights within the protected perimeter.
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