Rockets fired at U.S. Embassy land inside Baghdad's Green Zone, damaging compound

By Ahmed Rasheed and Hesham Abdul Khalek

 

FILE PHOTO: Cars drive past the Green Zone of Baghdad, Iraq June 10, 2019. Picture taken June 10, 2019. REUTERS/Khalid Al-Mousily

 

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - At least eight Katyusha rockets landed in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone in an attack targeting the U.S. Embassy, causing some minor damage on the compound on Sunday, the Iraqi military and the embassy said on Sunday.

 

The Iraqi military said an "outlaw group" fired eight rockets. Most of the missiles hit a residential complex and a security checkpoint inside the zone, damaging buildings and cars and wounding one Iraqi soldier, a military statement said.

 

Sirens blared from the embassy compound inside the zone, which houses government buildings and foreign missions.

 

An anti-rocket system diverted one of the rockets, said one security official whose office is inside the Green Zone.

 

The U.S. Embassy condemned the attack and urged all Iraqi political and governmental leaders to take steps to prevent such attacks and to hold accountable those responsible.

 

"The U.S. Embassy confirms rockets targeting the International Zone resulted in the engagement of Embassy defensive systems. There was some minor damage on the Embassy compound but no injuries or casualties," it said in a statement.

 

A spokesman for the Iraqi president also condemned the attack.

 

U.S. officials blame Iran-backed militia for regular rocket attacks on U.S. facilities in Iraq, including near the embassy in Baghdad. No known Iran-backed groups have claimed responsibility.

 

An array of militia groups announced in October that they had suspended rocket attacks on U.S. forces on condition that Iraq's government present a timetable for the withdrawal of American troops.

 

But a rocket strike on the U.S. Embassy on Nov. 18 was a clear sign that Iranian-backed militias had decided to resume attacks on U.S. bases, according to Iraqi security officials.

 

Washington, which is slowly reducing its 5,000 troops in Iraq, threatened to shut its embassy unless the Iraqi government reins in Iran-aligned militias.

 

(Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed and Hesham Abdul Khalek; Additional reporting by Ahmed Tolba; Writing by Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by Angus MacSwan)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-12-21

 

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What did you expect after trump surrendered more to come imo

How many bombs and rockets are targeted at America? And how many are targeted by Americans?

There is no question who is the master bomber.

It would be interesting to know what the embassy  'defensive systems' were. CIWS? LPWS? How was a rocket 'diverted' and to where? Collateral damage if either of those things happened. CIWS 4000 to 6000 20mm rounds a minute, per gun. Lots of bullets. Lots of shrapnel.

Maybe Trump will blame the Chinese?

The conflict between the US and Iran is ongoing and dates from the early 1950s.

The recent spike in hostilities which includes the targeted killing of Soleimani was no doubt in large part provoked by that deed as well.

The appalling stupidity of that act is now being experienced as rocket attacks on the biggest US Embassy in the world.

They had better upgrade their air defenses without delay. The recent attack exposed the US systems as failures.

The Iranians are extracting their pound of flesh... little by little.

Why are there American troops still in Iraq?

Wouldn't it be easier (and cheaper) to just close the embassy and do all diplomatic matters by Zoom meetings and other electronic means?  The days of needing embassies should soon come to an end.  It is a relic of the past.