Unknown individuals targeted the American brand Caterpillar’s store and the British Cambridge Institute in Baghdad with sound grenades early Thursday morning, adding to a series of attacks on US brands in the Iraqi capital.

#BREAKING: Initial reports of explosions at a Caterpillar store and Cambridge Institute #Baghdad.

The attacks come in light of another series of attacks on US franchise companies in the capital.#TheNewRegion pic.twitter.com/qI2Y7iEQ3r

— The New Region (@thenewregion) May 29, 2024

Iraqi Security Media Cell confirmed later in the morning that the incident at the Caterpillar store in Jadriya and Cambridge Institute in Palestine Street in Baghdad caused no human or material damage.

In a statement, the Cell reported that “at 01:20, a sound grenade exploded in front of the Caterpillar company in the Jadriya area. Another sound grenade exploded at 01:30 in front of the Cambridge Institute on Palestine Street in a residential area of central Baghdad, causing no human or material damage.”

The statement added that “such actions are desperate attempts to tarnish Iraq's reputation, hinder the tangible progress in reconstruction, and undermine the sacrifices and standing of our security forces.”

Over the past week, a series of coordinated attacks have targeted American franchise companies in Baghdad, raising concerns about escalating violence and the safety of foreign businesses in Iraq's capital.

Early Monday, a KFC branch in Baghdad's Karrada district was attacked by masked assailants, hours after another branch on Palestine Street was struck by an IED, causing material damage.

Videos on social media showed individuals vandalizing the Karrada restaurant. Shortly after, explosions targeted Lee's and Chilli House restaurants on Palestine Street.

The Baghdad Operations Command announced the identification and arrest of the perpetrators, aided by surveillance footage and intelligence tracking.

Iraqi Minister of Interior Abdul Amir al-Shammari oversaw the reopening of the affected restaurants and directed measures to hold responsible parties within the security forces accountable.

These attacks are part of a broader pattern of threats against American companies in Baghdad, which began last November, citing support for Israel.

The US State Department condemned the violence, with spokesperson Matthew Miller stating that the US is “tracking the reports about the attacks on KFC and other brands” and welcoming the Iraqi authorities' commitment to investigating these attacks thoroughly.