Photo Credit: AFP
No fewer than three rockets were launched at Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses the US Embassy, during the early hours of Friday.
It was learnt that the rockets landed on the outskirts of the district housing government and diplomatic buildings, an Iraqi security official said.
According to Reuters, a US military official speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP news agency that alarms had gone off and that "probable sounds of impacts were heard" near the US embassy and Union III base, where troops from the international counter-terror coalition are stationed.
According to AFP, in a statement, the US embassy said "two salvoes of rockets" were fired at the mission compound at around 4:15 am (0115 GMT).
"Indications are the attacks were initiated by Iran-aligned militias," said a US spokesperson.
"We again call on the government of Iraq... to do all in its power to protect diplomatic and coalition partner personnel and facilities.
"We reiterate that we reserve the right to self-defence and to protect our personnel anywhere in the world," the spokesperson added.
In further detail, an Iraqi military official verified the activation of alarms and reported hearing what is presumed to be the sound of impacts near the US Embassy complex and the nearby Forward Operating Base Union III, accommodating forces from the international coalition.
The official, who preferred not to disclose his identity, stated, "We are awaiting official information about the nature of the attack."
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced, on December 6, that it targeted the US occupation base of Ain al-Assad in al-Anbar Governorate in western Iraq, in response to Israeli war crimes in Gaza and the US backing of the Israeli occupation.
At the time, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that a drone attack targeted US forces at Harir base in Erbil Governorate, which was later claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.
It is worth noting that a Pentagon official said, on December 3, that US forces and the international coalition were attacked at least 76 times in Iraq and Syria since the start of Operation al-Aqsa Flood on October 7.
The US and international occupation forces came under fire from the Islamic Resistance in the region as the latter showed solidarity with the people of Gaza and all of occupied Palestine, while the US continued to funnel in weapons and equipment to the Israeli occupation.
The Resistance in Iraq affirmed, on December 3, that it would remain steadfast in its confrontations against its enemies, promising to intensify its attacks against the US occupation forces, until they are "expelled, humiliated, and defeated from" Iraq.