The US embassy in Baghdad’s tightly guarded Green Zone was the target of a barrage of rocket fire on Friday, according to the mission. This was only the most recent in a string of attacks during the Israel-Hamas conflict.
According to a US official, “a multi-rocket attack was launched at US and Coalition forces in the vicinity of Union III and the Baghdad embassy complex” with no known injuries or damage.
No one took immediate credit for anything.
Leading a multinational coalition against Islamists in neighboring Syria and Iraq, the United States has recently seen a string of attacks on its forces.
The strikes take place against the backdrop of the more than two-month-long conflict in the Gaza Strip between US ally Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization, which is backed by Iran.
In a statement, the US embassy said “two salvoes of rockets” were fired at the mission compound at around 4.15am (0115 GMT).
“Indications are the attacks were initiated by Iran-aligned militias,” said a US spokesperson.
“We again call on the government of Iraq… to do all in its power to protect diplomatic and coalition partner personnel and facilities.
“We reiterate that we reserve the right to self-defence and to protect our personnel anywhere in the world,” the spokesperson added.
However, since the Israel-Hamas war started on October 7, there have been no rocket attacks against the US embassy in Baghdad until Friday, which has increased regional tensions and raised worries of a wider battle.
“Three Katyusha rockets targeting the American embassy fell close to the Green Zone,” which is along the Tigris River, according to an Iraqi security official. They were not authorized to speak to the media, so they had to speak on condition of anonymity.
Another 900 US troops are stationed in Syria and another 2,500 in Iraq as part of the military’s efforts to stop the Islamic State from rising again.
The day before, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the phone that Baghdad rejected
“any attack on Iraqi territory”, according to a statement from Sudani’s office.
Sudani also said the Iraqi government was committed “to ensuring the safety of the international coalition advisers present in Iraq”.
On Wednesday, a US military official said a drone had targeted Western troops at the Ain al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq, but there were no casualties or damage.
AFP
