Current:Home > BackRockets fired at U.S. Embassy in Iraq as Mideast violence keeps escalating-InfoLens
Rockets fired at U.S. Embassy in Iraq as Mideast violence keeps escalating
View Date:2024-12-23 12:43:00
Baghdad — A rocket attack on the sprawling U.S. Embassy in Baghdad caused minor damage but no casualties Friday morning, U.S. and Iraqi officials said.
The attack is the first on the embassy located in the heavily fortified Green Zone of Iraq's capital to be confirmed since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war. The Green Zone houses Iraqi government buildings and embassies on the west bank of the Tigris River.
Iran-backed militias in Iraq have claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks that targeted bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria since Israel declared war on Hamas two months ago. The U.S. military says 78 attacks have been carried out against U.S. facilities over the past weeks, of which 37 were in Iraq and 41 in Syria.
An Iraqi security official said 14 Katyusha rockets were fired Friday, of which some struck near one of the U.S. Embassy's gates while others fell in the river. The official said the rocket attack caused material damage but no casualties.
A U.S. military official said a multi-rocket attack was launched at American and coalition forces in the vicinity of the embassy complex and the Union III base, which houses offices of the U.S.-led coalition. The official added that no casualties and no damage to infrastructure were reported.
An embassy spokesperson said the U.S. Embassy was attacked by two salvos of rockets at approximately 4:15 a.m. local time.
"Assessments are ongoing, but there are no reported casualties on the embassy compound," the official said, adding that no specific group had claimed responsibility for firing the rockets as of Friday morning but early indications pointed to Iran-aligned militias.
"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," the official said. "We reiterate that we reserve the right to self-defense and to protect our personnel anywhere in the world."
The three officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a statement that "targeting diplomatic missions is something that cannot be justified." He called the attack an "insult to Iraq, its stability and security," and promised to "pursue the perpetratrors of the attack ...and bring them to justice."
Sudani came to power with the support of a coalition of Iran-backed parties. But he also wants continued good relations with the U.S. and has backed the ongoing presence of American troops in his country.
While no group claimed responsibility for the embassy attack, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias, issued statements claiming separate attacks Friday on the al-Asad airbase in western Iraq, which is used by U.S. forces, and on a base located at the Conoco gas field in eastern Syria.
There are roughly 2,500 U.S. troops in Iraq and around 900 others in eastern Syria, on missions against ISIS. In both countries, Iran has militias loyal to Tehran.
In response to attacks against American troops, the U.S. has retaliated with airstrikes three times in Syria since Oct. 17, targeting weapons depots and other facilities linked directly to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and the militias. The U.S. also struck multiple sites in Iraq late last month after a militia group for the first time fired short-range ballistic missiles at U.S. forces at al Asad air base.
- In:
- Baghdad
- Iraq
veryGood! (1)
Related
- Wheel of Fortune Contestant Goes Viral Over His Hilariously Wrong Answer
- Kim Kardashian, Kevin Hart and Sylvester Stallone are accused of massive water waste
- Floods are getting more common. Do you know your risk?
- Why We Will See More Devastating Floods Like The Ones In Kentucky
- The View's Sara Haines Walks Off After Whoopi Goldberg's NSFW Confession
- People who want to visit the world's tallest living tree now risk a $5,000 fine
- Heat torches Southern Europe, killing hundreds
- Keanu Reeves Shares Sweet Kiss With Girlfriend Alexandra Grant on MOCA Gala Red Carpet
- All the Ways Megan Fox Hinted at Her Pregnancy With Machine Gun Kelly
- Heavy rain floods streets across the Dallas-Fort Worth area
Ranking
- Burt Bacharach, composer of classic songs, will have papers donated to Library of Congress
- Watch Adele FaceTime Boyfriend Rich Paul During His Twitch Stream With Kai Cenat
- The U.S. Forest Service is taking emergency action to save sequoias from wildfires
- Keeping Score On Climate: How We Measure Greenhouse Gases
- Saving for retirement? How to account for Social Security benefits
- Love Is Blind Season 4 Finale: Find Out Who Got Married and Who Broke Up
- A New Mexico firewatcher describes watching his world burn
- These Survivor 44 Contestants Are Dating After Meeting on the Island
Recommendation
-
The Office's Kate Flannery Defends John Krasinski's Sexiest Man Alive Win
-
The U.K. breaks its record for highest temperature as the heat builds
-
California will ban sales of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035
-
Ariana Madix Is Feeling Amazing as She Attends Coachella After Tom Sandoval Split
-
Kansas basketball vs Michigan State live score updates, highlights, how to watch Champions Classic
-
California and the West broil in record-setting heat wave
-
Check Out the Harry Potter Stars, Then & Now
-
Restock Alert: The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution