US Embassy in Baghdad targeted by Iran-backed rocket attack, Pompeo says

By: Kenneth G.

The US Embassy in Baghdad was targeted with eight Katyusha rockets on Sunday, causing some damage to buildings inside the city’s heavily fortified Green Zone, officials said.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed Iran-backed militias for the attack that he said wounded Iraqi civilians.

“The people of Iraq deserve to have these attackers prosecuted. These violent and corrupt criminals must cease their destabilizing actions,” Pompeo wrote on Twitter.

Most missiles struck a residential complex and security checkpoint inside the zone, which houses government buildings and foreign missions, according to the Iraqi military.

The Iraqi military also attributed the attack to an “outlaw group.”

The US embassy condemned the show of force.

“The U.S. Embassy confirms rockets targeting the International Zone resulted in the engagement of Embassy defensive systems,” it said in a statement.

“There was some minor damage on the Embassy compound but no injuries or casualties.”