The Iraqi army says an eight-rocket reservoir has targeted the U.S. embassy in the heavily fortified green zone of Baghdad
BAGHDAD – Eight rockets headed for the U.S. embassy in the heavily fortified green zone of Baghdad on Sunday afternoon, Iraqi and Iraqi military officials said, raising fears of renewed unrest when is approaching the anniversary of next month’s assassination in the United States of an Iranian general.
An Iraqi military statement said an “illegal group” fired eight rockets at the green zone, injuring an Iraqi security guard who was controlling a checkpoint and causing material damage to a residential complex and some cars. The residential complex is usually empty.
The U.S. embassy’s C-RAM defense system, which is used to destroy missiles in the air, was activated to deflect the attack, the embassy said in a statement.
“The U.S. embassy confirms that rockets aimed at the international zone (green zone) led to the involvement of the embassy’s defense systems,” the statement said. There was said to be some minor damage to the embassy grounds.
“We call on all Iraqi political and government leaders to take steps to prevent these attacks and hold those responsible accountable,” the statement said.
Associated Press reporters on the other side of the Tigris River were able to hear the thunderous sound of the defense system.
The United States installed the C-RAM system during the summer as armed groups intensified rocket attacks on the embassy and its premises.
The United States withdrew some members of its embassy in Baghdad earlier this month, temporarily reducing personnel before the first anniversary of the U.S. airstrike that killed Iran’s top general, Qassim Soleimani, in outside Baghdad airport on 3 January. concerns about a possible retaliatory strike.
Soleimani’s assassination sparked outrage and led the Iraqi parliament to pass a non-binding resolution days after calling for the expulsion of all foreign troops from Iraq.
The frequency of rocket attacks in Iraq has frustrated the Trump administration. Iran-backed militia groups have been blamed for orchestrating the attacks.
In September, Washington warned Iraq that it would close the embassy in Baghdad if the government does not take decisive steps to end rockets and other attacks by Iranian-backed militias against US and allied interests in the country.
The partial withdrawal of the embassy came amid a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan announced by the outgoing Trump administration last month. In Iraq, the United States plans to reduce the number of troops from 3,000 to 2,500 by mid-January, before Trump leaves office.
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Associated Press writer Murtada Faraj contributed to this report.