WASHINGTON – Iran-backed militias launched a rocket attack on the US Embassy in Baghdad on Friday – as enemy groups also launched attacks on American forces in Iraq and Syria, defense officials said.
About 14 Katyusha rockets were fired around 4:15 a.m. Friday, some of which landed near the embassy gates.
No injuries were reported but the attack caused minor damage to the facility.
No specific militia group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but officials believe the perpetrators are groups affiliated with Iran, of which there are many in the region.
In a statement, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani spoke out against the attack, saying that “targeting diplomatic missions is something that cannot be allowed.”
Iran-backed militias fired a barrage of rockets at the US Embassy in Baghdad on Friday. Reuters
US troops are in Iraq with the consent of its government to continue the anti-ISIS mission.
Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Islamic Resistance claimed responsibility for separate attacks on Friday on US troops stationed at the al-Asaf air base in western Iraq and the Conoco gas field in eastern Syria.
The attack continued a string of repeated attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted in October. Hamas is also supported by Iran.
As of Thursday, there had been about 78 attacks on US troops in the region since October 17 – some of which resulted in minor injuries and traumatic brain injuries, according to Pentagon deputy spokeswoman Sabrina Singh.
“I will say that as of December 4, there are still about 66 of us who have received non-serious and non-life-threatening injuries. [in the attacks]all who have returned to work,” he said.
US Embassy from across the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq. AP
The latest attack comes after a day of peace on Thursday, during which Singh said there had been no attacks on US forces in the region in 24 hours.
Asked Thursday if that meant the militias were slowing down their attacks, the defense spokesman said it was “very difficult” to make that distinction because it was common to “have like a day or two that would go by without any attacks.”
It was not clear whether US troops were injured in Friday’s attack launched by the Islamic Resistance. Previously, Singh said it could take several days to get reports from those who suffered minor injuries.
There are about 2,500 US troops in Iraq and about 900 others in eastern Syria.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
