The US Embassy in Baghdad was the target of a rocket attack earlier this morning, Associated Press reported.
The attack, which was the first on the embassy since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza, caused minor damage and no casualties, officials reported.
While this was the first on the embassy located in the heavily fortified Green Zone, there have been “dozens of attacks” on bases housing US troops in Iraq and Syria, for which Iran-backed militias in Iraq have claimed responsibility.
An Iraqi security official said 14 Katyusha rockets were fired today of which some struck near one of the US Embassy’s gates while others fell in the river.
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“Assessments are ongoing, but there are no reported casualties on the embassy compound,” an embassy spokesperson said.
“We again call on the government of Iraq, as we have done on many occasions, 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.”
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani condemned the attack and called it an “insult to Iraq, its stability and security”.
While no group has come forward and claimed responsibility for the rocket attack, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias, has claimed separate attacks on the al-Asad airbase in western Iraq and on a base located at the Conoco gas field in eastern Syria.
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The US has conducted three airstrikes in Syria and targeted sites in Iraq in response to attacks on American troops since October 17.
