US Embassy In Iraq's Baghdad Attacked By Rockets, Iraqi PM Confirms Pursuit Of Perpetrators

The United States Embassy in Baghdad. (Wikimedia Commons/United States Department of State)

JAKARTA - The US Embassy in Bagdad was attacked with two rockets on Friday, but there were no casualties as a result of the attack, an embassy spokesman said.

The explosion was heard near the embassy, in the center of the Iraqi capital, at around 4 a.m. on Friday. The sirens calling on people to take cover were activated, according to social media videos from the scene.

The attack is believed to have been carried out by militias allied to Iran in Iraq, the spokesman said, although so far no group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

"We once again call on the Iraqi government, as we have done on numerous occasions, to do everything in order to protect diplomatic personnel and facilities and coalition partners," an embassy spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani directed security agencies to pursue the perpetrators, describing them as "a rogue and lawless group that does not represent the wishes of the Iraqi people at all," read a statement from his office.

He also emphasized that damaging stability, reputation and targeting places that Iraq has committed to protection are acts of terrorism.

In addition to its diplomatic staff in Iraq, the United States has about 2,500 troops in the country on a mission it says aims to advise and assist local forces in an effort to prevent the rise of ISIS, which in 2014 controlled much of the country before it was finally reclaimed. defeated.

"We reiterate that we have the right to defend ourselves and protect our personnel anywhere in the world," said the embassy interpreter.

This is the first rocket attack reported against the Uncle Sam's embassy since a Shiite militia group allied with Iran began attacks on US troops at military bases in Iraq and neighboring Syria in mid-October.

Armed groups, operating under the flag of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, have linked more than 70 similar attacks with Washington's support for Israel in a devastating attack on Gaza.