Rockets rained down on the US embassy in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone on Friday, as confirmed by the mission, marking the latest surge in such attacks amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
‘A multi-rocket attack was launched at US and Coalition forces in the vicinity of Union III and the Baghdad embassy complex’ without causing any reported casualties or damage, a US official said.
No entity promptly asserted responsibility for the occurrence.
An international coalition, spearheaded by the United States, is actively engaged in the battle against jihadists in Iraq and Syria, with its forces experiencing repeated attacks in the past weeks.
The context for these attacks is the ongoing more than two-month war involving the United States’ ally, Israel, and the Iran-backed Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement, the US embassy said “two salvoes of rockets” were fired at the mission compound at around 4.15am (0115 GMT).
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‘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.
Pro-Iran groups have carried out dozens of rocket or drone strikes against US or coalition forces in Iraq and Syria since mid-October.
Friday’s rocket strike constituted the first attack on the US embassy in Baghdad since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, amplifying regional tensions and instigating fears of an expanding conflict.
An Iraqi security official said ‘Three Katyusha rockets targeting the American embassy fell close to the Green Zone,’ near the river Tigris. They spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media.
There are roughly 2,500 US troops in Iraq and about 900 in Syria as part of efforts to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State group.