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Many missiles hit the Green Zone near the US embassy in Iraq on November 17 – Photo: IRAQI MILITARY
The siren sounded at the US embassy in the Green Zone, an area of government buildings and foreign diplomatic missions, according to the Reuters news agency.
At least four missiles were fired, a security source said, and some landed near the US embassy. A military source said seven Katyusha rockets were fired, 4 landed in the Blue Zone and 3 landed outside the area, killing 1 child and injuring 5 others.
Earlier, the Iraqi military said the missiles were from an eastern district of the capital, but did not provide further details.
Two diplomatic sources within the Green Zone said they had heard that the missile defense system used to protect the US embassy is activated. One of the sources said a missile explosion shook a building in the area.
US officials say the Iranian-backed militia is responsible for the missile attacks on US bases in Iraq, including the recent incident. There is currently no group that has claimed responsibility for the attack.
From October 2019 to date, there have been nearly 90 roadside bomb and missile attacks against embassies, foreign soldiers and other stockpiles across Iraq.
Reuters reported that in October, a series of Iranian-backed Iraqi militia groups called on the Iraqi government to set a timetable for the US withdrawal. These groups have not given a deadline for the request, but say that if the US military “stands firm,” it will launch more violent attacks.
The November 17 attack occurred on the same day that US President Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of 500 US troops from Iraq and the withdrawal of 4,500 to 2,500 from Afghanistan by January 15, 2021.
