US diplomatic facility in Baghdad attacked in a bid to disrupt Iranian president's visit
- In Reports
- 11:42 PM, Sep 11, 2024
- Myind Staff
A US diplomatic facility in Baghdad was attacked late on Tuesday, but no casualties have been reported. A damage assessment is currently being conducted, according to a statement from a US embassy spokesperson on Wednesday.
Security sources informed Reuters that two rockets landed near US forces stationed at the Camp Victory base, close to Baghdad airport, around 11 pm on Tuesday.
"At approximately 23:00 on Tuesday, September 10, there was an attack at the Baghdad Diplomatic Services Compound, a US diplomatic facility," the US embassy statement said.
"Fortunately, there are no reported casualties, and we are assessing the damage and its cause. Our assessment is ongoing," it said.
Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed armed group in Iraq, stated that the attack's timing was intended to disrupt the visit of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, which began on Wednesday.
In a statement issued early on Wednesday, the group urged Iraqi security forces to investigate the attack and identify those responsible.
Pezeshkian, on his first foreign trip since his July election, is expected to sign several bilateral agreements with Baghdad. He will also discuss the Gaza conflict and the broader Middle East situation with Iraqi leaders.
Iraq, one of the few regional partners of both the US and Iran, hosts 2,500 US troops and has Iran-backed armed factions connected to its security forces.
Iran-aligned armed groups in Iraq have repeatedly attacked US troops in the Middle East since the Gaza war began.
Image source: Reuters
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