WASHINGTON – Iran-backed militias fired a barrage of rockets at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Friday, as enemy groups also launched attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, according to defense officials.
About 14 Katyusha rockets were fired around 4:15 a.m. Friday, some of which landed near the embassy gates.
No injuries were reported but the attack caused superficial damage to the facilities.
No specific militant group claimed responsibility for the attack, but officials believe the perpetrator was an Iran-aligned group, of which there are many in the region.
In a statement, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani spoke out against the attack, saying that “attacking diplomatic missions is something that cannot be justified.”
Iran-backed militias fired a barrage of rockets at the US embassy in Baghdad on Friday. REUTERS
The US military is in Iraq with the consent of its government to continue its mission against ISIS.
Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Islamic Resistance claimed responsibility for separate attacks on Friday against US forces stationed at al-Asaf air base in western Iraq and the Conoco gas field in eastern Syria.
The attacks continue a series of recurring attacks against US forces in Iraq and Syria since the conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted in October. Hamas is also backed by Iran.
As of Thursday, there had been about 78 attacks on U.S. forces in the region since Oct. 17, some of which resulted in minor wounds and traumatic brain injuries, according to Pentagon deputy spokeswoman Sabrina Singh.
“I would say that as of December 4, still about 66 of our employees have received non-serious, non-life-threatening injuries. [in the attacks]everyone who has returned to work,” he said.
The US embassy across the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq. AP
The latest attacks came after a day of peace on Thursday, during which Singh said there had been no attacks on US forces in the region over a 24-hour period.
Asked Thursday if that meant the militias were slowing their attacks, the defense spokesman said “it’s really difficult” to make that distinction because it was not unusual “to have a day or two without any attacks.”
It was not immediately clear if any American soldiers were injured in Friday’s attacks launched by the Islamic Resistance. In the past, Singh has said it can take several days for him to receive reports from those suffering minor injuries.
There are approximately 2,500 U.S. troops in Iraq and about 900 more in eastern Syria.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn