Confirmation from US officials states that three rockets have struck the US Embassy compound in Baghdad, Iraq, resulting in one person being injured.
Reports from the US State Department reveal that the rockets were fired in the Baghdad Green Zone, the location of US Military outposts and the US Embassy.
No blame has been attributed to Iran for the attack by the US, and there has been no official statement from Iran or any of its military proxies.
Tensions have been escalating between the US and Iran since the US withdrew from the Iran Nuclear deal in 2018, signed by the US, Iran, E.U, Russia, and China.
Earlier this month, Iranian protesters stormed the US embassy, leading to the US military’s killing of Iranian military General Qassem Soleimani. This event resulted in an Iranian military strike on a US base in Iraq, causing head injuries to some US troops.
Amid increased tensions, the US urged the Iraqi government to protect its bases, despite the Iraqi parliament voting on a resolution to expel the American military from Iraq.
“We call on the Government of Iraq to fulfill its obligations to protect our diplomatic facilities,” stated a spokesperson from the State Department in response to the rocket attacks on Monday.
“Violent acts against our diplomatic facilities are simply unacceptable. We must ensure the safety of American diplomats, troops, and other Americans in Iraq.”
In reaction to the attack, Iraqi Prime Minister Abdul Mahdi stated, “Iraqi forces have been ordered to deploy, search, and investigate to prevent the recurrence of such attacks and to arrest those who launched these rockets to ensure they are punished.”
“The Iraqi government is committed to protecting all diplomatic missions and taking all necessary measures to achieve this.”