Current:Home > MarketsRockets fired at U.S. Embassy in Iraq as Mideast violence keeps escalating -FinanceMind
Rockets fired at U.S. Embassy in Iraq as Mideast violence keeps escalating
View
Date:2025-04-16 00:05:26
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! (8191)
Related
- Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
- Chris Martin Serenading Dakota Johnson During His Coldplay Concert Will Change Your Universe
- Mod Sun Appears to Reference Avril Lavigne Relationship After Her Breakup With Tyga
- One officer shot dead, 2 more critically injured in Fargo; suspect also killed
- Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
- 39 Products To Make the Outdoors Enjoyable if You’re an Indoor Person
- Transcript: Rep. Michael McCaul on Face the Nation, July 16, 2023
- 3 congressmen working high-stakes jobs at a high-stakes moment — while being treated for cancer
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Warming Trends: Elon Musk Haggles Over Hunger, How Warming Makes Birds Smaller and Wings Longer, and Better Glitter From Nanoparticles
Ranking
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- You'd Never Guess This Chic & Affordable Summer Dress Was From Amazon— Here's Why 2,800+ Shoppers Love It
- As G-20 ministers gather in Delhi, Ukraine may dominate — despite India's own agenda
- Cancer Shoppable Horoscope: Birthday Gifts To Nurture, Inspire & Soothe Our Crab Besties
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- OceanGate Believes All 5 People On Board Missing Titanic Sub Have Sadly Died
- Jennifer Lawrence Hilariously Claps Back at Liam Hemsworth Over Hunger Games Kissing Critique
- Inside Clean Energy: The Energy Storage Boom Has Arrived
Recommendation
US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
No ideological splits, only worried justices as High Court hears Google case
Catholic Bishops in the US Largely Ignore the Pope’s Concern About Climate Change, a New Study Finds
From Denial to Ambiguity: A New Study Charts the Trajectory of ExxonMobil’s Climate Messaging
Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
OceanGate Believes All 5 People On Board Missing Titanic Sub Have Sadly Died
The Enigmatic ‘Climate Chancellor’ Pulls Off a Grand Finale
Air quality alerts issued for Canadian wildfire smoke in Great Lakes, Midwest, High Plains