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Agence France-Presse

Two Katyusha rockets crashed late on Wednesday into the Iraqi capital’s Green Zone, the high-security enclave where foreign embassies including the US mission are based, according to security sources.
Just before midnight, two loud blasts were heard in Baghdad followed by the wailing security sirens of the Green Zone.
Police sources said at least one of the rockets fell 100 metres from the US embassy.
Iraq’s military said the rockets caused no casualties. It did not provide further details.


There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
US Defence Secretary Mark Esper downplayed the Green Zone rocket attack as he spoke to reporters on Wednesday.
“We should have some expectation that the Shia militia groups, either directed or not directed by Iran, will continue in some way, shape or form to try and undermine our presence there, either politically or, you know, take some type of kinetic actions against us or do Lord-knows-what,” he said.
The attack came nearly 24 hours after Tehran launched ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases housing American and other coalition forces in retaliation for the US killing top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.
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Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was also slain in the US strike. He was the deputy head of the Hashed al-Shaabi, a web of armed groups incorporated into the Iraqi state but which also have close ties to Tehran.
The United States had accused Hashed groups of being behind a string of rocket attacks on the US embassy in Baghdad and bases hosting American troops across the country.
On Wednesday, the Hashed’s hardline factions vowed they, too, would take revenge for the US raid.
Paramilitary chief Qais al-Khazali – blacklisted as a terrorist by the US – said Iraq’s response to the US “will be no less than the size of the Iranian response”.
Additional reporting by Reuters


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Iraqi military confirms strike, adding that there were no casualties
Attack comes nearly 24 hours after Tehran launched over a dozen missiles at Iraqi bases housing US troops



Iraqi military confirms strike, adding that there were no casualties; attack comes nearly 24 hours after Tehran launched over a dozen missiles at Iraqi bases housing US troops.


Iraq

Iran

War and conflict

Two rockets hit Iraqi capital’s Green Zone, home to foreign embassies including US mission

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Iraqi military confirms strike, adding that there were no casualties Attack comes nearly 24 hours after Tehran launched over a dozen missiles at Iraqi bases housing US troops

Iraqi military confirms strike, adding that there were no casualties

Attack comes nearly 24 hours after Tehran launched over a dozen missiles at Iraqi bases housing US troops