BAGHDAD: Three Katyusha rockets landed in Baghdad’s heavily fortified “green zone” on Sunday in an attack targeting the US Embassy, two Iraqi security sources said.

According to the Iraqi military, an “outlaw group” had fired the rockets, which hit a residential complex inside the zone, damaging buildings and cars but causing no casualties.

Sirens blared from the embassy compound inside the zone, which houses government buildings and foreign missions.

An anti-rocket system diverted one of the rockets, said one security official whose office is inside the Green Zone. There were no casualties.

US officials blame Iran-backed militia for regular rocket attacks on facilities in Iraq, including near the embassy in Baghdad. No known Iran-backed groups have claimed responsibility.

An array of militia groups announced in October that they had suspended rocket attacks on US forces on condition that Iraq’s government present a timetable for the withdrawal of American troops.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2020