Four Rockets Hit Baghdad's Green Zone

Iraqi security forces gather at a checkpoint into the Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq December 10, 2018. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani/Files
Iraqi security forces gather at a checkpoint into the Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq December 10, 2018. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani/Files
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Four Rockets Hit Baghdad's Green Zone

Iraqi security forces gather at a checkpoint into the Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq December 10, 2018. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani/Files
Iraqi security forces gather at a checkpoint into the Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq December 10, 2018. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani/Files

Four rockets exploded inside Baghdad's fortified Green Zone near the American embassy, Iraq's military said Thursday, in the third such attack since the US embarked on strategic talks with Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s government and the fifth in ten days.

It wasn't immediately clear who was responsible for the attack, which caused no casualties or damage, but the US has blamed Iran-backed militia groups for a recent quick succession of rocket attacks targeting the American presence in Iraq.

The attacks are proving to be a key challenge for the administration of Kadhimi, whose government has promised to take action against militias who attack the US.
Thursday's attack was the third since strategic talks were launched last week.

In a tweet following the attack, Kadhimi said it aimed to “undermine our stability and future” and was “unacceptable.”

“I will not tolerate rogue groups hijacking our homeland to create chaos and find excuses to maintain their narrow interests,” he said.

The first session of the much-anticipated talks between the US and Iraq began last week and laid the agenda for the months ahead, including the issues of the presence of US troops in the country, militia groups acting outside of state authority and Iraq’s dire economic crisis.

During the talks, Iraq committed to “moving ahead and undertaking their obligations" to protect the American presence against militia attacks, said US Assistant Secretary of State David Schenker. But attacks have continued in an apparent defiance of that promise.

A military statement said four rockets struck the Green Zone, which houses government buildings and foreign embassies including the US, just after midnight Thursday. The statement said there were no casualties or material damage. Security forces later found a Katyusha rocket launching platform near Al-Rashid camp south of the capital.

On Monday, three rockets landed after midnight in the vicinity of Baghdad airport, a military statement said. The launch was from the al-Makaseb neighborhood, a police investigation later found.

On Saturday, two rockets hit Camp Taji base, north of Baghdad, without causing casualties. The base is frequented by US troops.

Since October, at least 32 attacks have targeted American interests in Iraq that the US has blamed on Iran-backed factions.



Israeli Strike Hits Vehicle at Beirut Southern Entrance, State Media Reports

File photo of Lebanon's Khaldeh area, Lebanon August 1, 2021. REUTERS/Issam Abdallah
File photo of Lebanon's Khaldeh area, Lebanon August 1, 2021. REUTERS/Issam Abdallah
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Israeli Strike Hits Vehicle at Beirut Southern Entrance, State Media Reports

File photo of Lebanon's Khaldeh area, Lebanon August 1, 2021. REUTERS/Issam Abdallah
File photo of Lebanon's Khaldeh area, Lebanon August 1, 2021. REUTERS/Issam Abdallah

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported an Israeli strike on a vehicle on Beirut's southern entrance, as the Israeli army said it hit a "terrorist" working for Iran.

According to the NNA, "an enemy drone targeted a car on the Khalde highway" south of Beirut, AFP reported.

The Israeli army said it "eliminated a terrorist responsible for smuggling weapons and advancing terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops, on behalf of the Iranian Quds Force", the foreign operations arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.