New Delhi: At least four rockets were launched targeting the US Embassy in the heavily fortified Green Zone area of Baghdad on Thursday. The area is strategically important as it is home to Iraq’s government and diplomatic missions.
Out of the four rockets launched, three of them struck within the perimeter of the US Embassy, while the fourth one hit a school located in a nearby residential complex, as reported by two Iraqi security officials.
The officials were not authorised to talk to the media and so spoke on the condition of anonymity.
As per the statement issued by the Iraqi military, a girl and a woman were among the people who were injured in the attack and gave no further details. The statement added that the rockets were launched from the Dora neighborhood of Baghdad, reports AP.
Witnesses said they heard the embassy's C-RAM defense system was supposed to detect and destroy incoming rockets, artillery and mortar shells during the attack.
A series of rockets and drone attacks have been carried out targeting the American presence in Iraq since the start of this year, following the second year anniversary of the US strike that killed Iranian General Qassim Soleimani and Iraq militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
A series of attacks had targeted American troops in Iraq and Syria last Thursday. Rockets struck an Iraqi military base hosting US troops in western Anbar province and the capital.
Following Soleimani’s killing, the Pro-Iran Shiite factions had vowed revenge and laid the condition of ending the attacks when American troops would fully exit from the country.