Iraq: Militants fire at Baghdad's high-security 'Green Zone'
February 23, 2021
Militants fired rockets at the high-security Green Zone in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Monday.
The US and other foreign embassies are located inside the fortified area.
It's the third attack in a week to target Western diplomatic, military or commercial sites across Iraq, following after months of relative calm.
At least two rockets hit within the perimeter of the Green Zone, where the American and other foreign embassies are based, Iraqi security services said.
No casualties were reported, they said.
A security source told AFP at least one rocket hit the headquarters of Iraq's National Security Service near the US diplomatic mission.
US condemns, but will 'not lash out'
Speaking at press conference in Washington, US State Department spokesman Ned Price condemned the attacks. Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, Washington appeared to take aim at Iran-allied militants.
"We will hold Iran responsible for the actions of its proxies that attack Americans," he said.
"What we will not do is lash out and risk an escalation that plays into the hands of Iran and contributes to their attempts to further destabilize Iraq," Price added.
Series of rocket attacks
Over one week ago, more than a dozen rockets targeted a military complex near Irbil Airport in northern Iraq.
The complex hosts foreign troops from a US-led coalition that has been helping Iraq fight jihadistssince 2014.
Two people were killed in the rocket attack, including one foreign contractor based at the airport. The contractor was killed immediately, while a civilian died of his wounds on Monday.
On Saturday, rockets hit the Al-Balad airbase north of Baghdad, where Iraq keeps most of the F-16 jets it has purchased from the US in recent years.
Security sources said at least one local contractor for the US company that maintains the planes was wounded.
Price said the United Stateswas still determining who was behind that attack.
jf/rs (AFP, Reuters)