In what a U.S. military commander for the Middle East said ‘largest’ rocket attack in a decade, the U.S. embassy in Baghdad was hit by rockets over the last few days. The biggest attack came on Sunday, though reports of the embassy being attacked on Saturday and Monday have emerged.
It is alleged that the attacks have been carried out by Iran-backed militant groups. The attack so far has resulted in the death of one local civilian and has damaged the embassy compound, according to news reports. The barrage of rockets numbered at 21 was launched at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad which is being described as the largest attack on the capital’s ‘Green Zone’ since 2010, reports the Wall Street Journal.
US officials have said that no embassy personnel were injured, but the rocket did damage some residential property surrounding the Green Zone. In response, the embassy’s missile defense system was activated to deflect the attack, the embassy said in a statement. The US Embassy on twitter confirmed the attacks and said “The U.S. Embassy confirms rockets targeting the International Zone resulted in the engagement of Embassy defensive systems. There was some minor damage on the Embassy compound but no injuries or casualties.
The Embassy further stated that they have received reports of damage to residential areas near the Embassy and possibly some injuries to innocent Iraqi civilians. “As we have said many times these sorts of attacks on diplomatic facilities are a violation of international law and are a direct assault on the sovereignty of the Iraqi government”, it said. The embassy called upon all Iraqi political and governmental leaders to take steps to prevent such attacks and hold accountable those responsible.
The attack comes ahead of the first anniversary of the assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani in an airstrike on Jan. 3 in Baghdad. The U.S. has reportedly withdrawn staff from the Baghdad embassy earlier this month out of concern for a potential retaliatory strike ahead of that anniversary.
President Donald Trump seems to have taken the attack seriously and said that he will hold Iran responsible if even one American is killed. “Our embassy in Baghdad got hit Sunday by several rockets. Three rockets failed to launch. Guess where they were from: IRAN. Now we hear chatter of additional attacks against Americans in Iraq”, he tweeted.
Advising Iran to consider its stance, Trump tweeted “Some friendly health advice to Iran: If one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over”.
Shobhil Shrivastava 
Aayush Pal