Baghdad, Nov. 18, (dpa/GNA) – A child was killed and five people were injured on Tuesday as rockets targeted Baghdad’s Green Zone, home to foreign embassies and government offices, Iraqi security said.
Seven rockets were fired towards the area, four of which landed inside the Green Zone. Two rockets fell outside while another one exploded in the air.
The rockets were fired from an area south-east of the zone, according to the Iraqi Media Cell, a unit affiliated with the prime minister’s office.
The Green Zone and Baghdad airport have been repeatedly targeted by rockets. However, Tuesday’s attack comes after a one-month lull in violence.
Tensions heightened in Iraq after the January killing of top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi Iran-allied militiamen in Baghdad in a US attack.
Since then, Iran-backed militia in Iraq have vowed retaliation. They have also been pushing for the withdrawal of US troops from the country since parliament voted after the January attack for foreign troops to leave.
The attack took place shortly after the US said it would reduce its troop levels in Iraq to 2,500 personnel members by January 15 from around 3,000.
In a statement, the Iraqi army said the government had been working on improving the security forces and equipping them to face terrorist threats, “which culminated with the announcement of withdrawing hundreds of foreign forces from Iraq.”
“Some outlawed forces insist … on obstructing the path towards sovereign achievements,” it added, vowing to prosecute those behind Tuesday’s attack.
GNA