American chain restaurants targeted in Baghdad over perceived support for Israel

BAGHDAD, November 14 — A number of American chain restaurants in central Baghdad were vandalized on Monday, and are facing increasing threats and boycotts for their parent companies’ perceived support of Israel in the war on Gaza.

Images showed paint-splattered storefronts of several American restaurants, including KFC, Pizza Hut, and Cinnabon. A sign taped to the front of a KFC location warned, “Companies that support the usurping Zionist entity are a target for us! It is up to you now!!!!”

U.S. chain restaurants in the region have seen similar incidents of vandalism or outright attacks and boycotts in recent weeks in response to U.S. support for Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip. The restaurants, however, are most often franchises, owned and operated by local companies.

According to a security source, the coordinated attacks took place in the capital’s Jadriya district by an unidentified suspect.

Security forces are working to identify the perpetrator behind the threats, which also targeted other restaurants, according to the source.