Five rockets hit near U.S. embassy in Iraq

The Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi on Sunday condemned the rocket attack on the U.S. embassy in the Green Zone in central Baghdad.

An attack occurred once again against a foreign diplomatic mission when Katyusha rockets landed inside the campus of the U.S. embassy, said a statement by Abdul Mahdi on his official Twitter page.

"We denounce the continuation of these condemned and outlaw acts that weaken the state and undermine its sovereignty," the statement said.

Abdul Mahdi, commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, said that he has ordered the Iraqi forces to deploy and look for the attackers, as well as launching an investigation into the incident, in order to arrest those who fired these rockets, according to the statement.

"The continuation of such irresponsible act, which makes the entire country to bear its consequences and serious repercussions, would lead to damage the country's higher interests and its relations with its friends, which may turn Iraq to a battlefield," the statement added.

Protesters and militia fighters throw petrol bombs into the U.S. embassy compound during a protest to condemn air strikes on bases belonging to Hashd al-Shaabi (paramilitary forces), outside the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq January 1, 2020. /Reuters Photo

At least five explosive projectiles landed near the U.S. embassy in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Sunday.

It remains unknown if there were any injuries stemming from the incident. No one has yet claimed responsibility for launching the projectiles.

Tensions in Baghdad remain high following weeks of protests, with demonstrators expressing anger and fatigue over Iraqi government management and the continued presence of American troops in the country.

On January 6, two rockets hit near the U.S. embassy in Iraq's capital hours after the ambassador was summoned over a U.S. strike that killed a top Iranian commander.

Sunday's attack was the second night in a row that the Green Zone was hit and the 15th time over the last two months that U.S. installations have been targeted.

The killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in a targeted airstrike earlier this month has fomented anger on the Iraqi street, leading to chants of "Death to America" in a number of demonstrations peppered throughout the country.

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