Five rockets have reportedly landed in the vicinity of the US embassy in Iraq’s capital city of Baghdad. There’s no official word yet on casualties or damage, though at least one rocket is said to have hit the compound directly.
The missiles hit Baghdad’s heavily-fortified Green Zone, AFP said, citing security sources. One of the sources said that five ‘Katyusha rockets’ had landed near the compound, while another put the number of projectiles at three.
https://twitter.com/IkoAfortiori/status/1221478069099208704
The unguided volley landed not far from the US mission late on Sunday. Warning systems at the facility were activated and people were advised to seek shelter, footage from the scene shows.
"Seek shelter"
We are still advised to take cover in Union III, just across the road from the #US embassy in Green Zone #Baghdad. A few rockets allegedly hit nearby.
I didn't hear any explosions as we were in hard cover. pic.twitter.com/pj9U5KPUqi— Nafiseh Kohnavard (@nafisehkBBC) January 26, 2020
Later in the day, former Iraqi FM Hoshyar Zebari claimed that at least one projectile had hit the US embassy, directly damaging its canteen and setting it on fire. Still, the US remains silent on the matter and there has been no confirmation – or denial – of the claims.
The compound of #USEmbassy in #Baghdad received a direct rockets hit by unruly militia. The Embassy restaurant or canteen was damaged and burned. This is a very dangerous game by #PMF uncontrolled factions to galvanize the tense situation. It must stop.
— Hoshyar Zebari (@HoshyarZebari) January 26, 2020
The Green Zone has seen a string of similar incidents in recent weeks, with unknown attackers repeatedly – and quite imprecisely – targeting the US embassy with unguided projectiles. Other US facilities across Iraq have sustained rocket fire on several occasions.
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