BAGHDAD: Barrages of rockets were launched early Friday at the US embassy in Baghdad’s Green Zone, the mission stated, the latest in a burst of such assaults amid the Hamas-Israel war.
“A multi-rocket assault was launched at US and Coalition troops in the area of Union III and the Baghdad embassy complex” without causing any damage, an American said. AFP reported that there was no claim of responsibility for the attack.
The US leads a global coalition battling militants in Iraq and Syria, and its troops have come under repeated assault in recent few weeks.
Rockets fired at US Embassy in Iraq Amid Gaza War
Rocket or drone assaults were launched twice against the Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq and three bases in Syria were attacked, a US military official told AFP on the condition of anonymously.
The assault come against a backdrop of the over two-month fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The US “strongly” denounced the assaults and called on Iraq to bring the committers to justice, the State Department said.
“The militias that operate openly in Iraq threaten the stability and security of Iraq, our troops, and our allies in the region,” spokesman Matthew Miller stated.
The US embassy also confirmed “two barrages of rockets” were fired at the embassy building in Baghdad at 0115 GMT. Matthew Miller said that the government of Iraq has repeatedly pledged to protect diplomatic missions and US military personnel in Iraq.
READ ALSO: US Opposes Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza as Over 17,487 Palestinians Killed
In a statement, Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani warned that assaults on embassies undermine Iraq’s security and called on troops to bring those responsible to justice.
Friday’s rocket strike was the first against the American embassy in Baghdad since the Hamas-Israel war started on October 7, increasing regional tensions and fears of a wider crisis.
There are around 2,500 US forces in Iraq and around 900 in Syria as part of attempt to prevent a resurgence of militant in the country. The US has counted about 84 assaults since October 17 against its troops in Syria and Iraq. Earlier, the Pentagon said that the assaults against US forces have left around 60 US personnel injured.
