New rocket attack is launched on US embassy in Baghdad

Multiple rockets have been launched at the US embassy in Baghdad. 

They are believed to have missed the embassy, with local reports suggesting they hit an apartment complex instead, killing civilians.   

It is the second night in a row that the embassy has been attacked and comes after the US killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. 

Iraq’s military said in a statement on Sunday that three Katyusha rockets had fallen in Baghdad; three inside the heavily fortified Green Zone and three others in the nearby Jadriya area. 

Six people were wounded, police sources said, with one rocket thought to have hit a family home.  

Residents of the Iraq’s capital of Baghdad said explosions rang out inside the heavily-fortified Green Zone, home to the US Embassy and the seat of Iraq’s government.

Alert sirens were sounded Sunday in the area on the west bank of the Tigris river.  

Multiple rockets landed near the US embassy in Baghdad tonight. Iraqi counter-terrorism forces stand guard in front of the US embassy on January 2 

Iran said it had identified 35 targets for potential strikes and raised its red 'flags of revenge' over a key mosque following the death of top general Qassem Soleimani (pictured in November 2019)

The rocket attack is the second in as many days and comes after the death of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani 

The rockets hit shortly after the deadline from a hardline pro-Iran faction for local troops to get away from US forces.

The vehemently anti-American group, Kataeb Hezbollah, had warned Iraqi security forces to ‘get away’ from US troops at joint bases across Iraq by 5.00pm (1400 GMT).

Sunday’s attack marks the 14th time rockets have been fired towards US installations in Iraq over the last two months.

Yesterday, at least two rockets landed near the embassy, which is located in the security-tight Green Zone, according to Sky News Arabia. 

Iraqi counter-terrorism forces stand guard in front of the US embassy in the capital Baghdad after it was stormed by pro-Iran protesters earlier in the week

Iraqi counter-terrorism forces stand guard in front of the US embassy in the capital Baghdad after it was stormed by pro-Iran protesters earlier in the week

Members of Iraqi Shiite 'Popular Mobilization Forces' armed group and their supporters set fire outside the U.S embassy inside the high security Green Zone area, in central Baghdad on January 1

Members of Iraqi Shiite ‘Popular Mobilization Forces’ armed group and their supporters set fire outside the U.S embassy inside the high security Green Zone area, in central Baghdad on January 1

Security at the embassy’s perimeter was stepped up after the rockets fell.

Another three rockets were fired at Balad Airbase housing American troops, about 50 miles north of the city, according to Reuters.   

Of those, two Katyusha rockets fell inside the base. It’s not clear how many US troops are being house at the base. 

A number of rockets also landed in the Al-Jadiriya neighborhood, according to the Iraq Army, although it is not clear if that was the intended target.  

There have been no reports of injuries and it is not clear who fired the rockets.

Pro-Iran protesters previously stormed the US embassy in a siege that lasted just over a day.  

'We can attack the White House itself, we can respond to them on the American soil. We have the power, and God willing we will respond in an appropriate time,' Iranian MP Abolfazl Abutorabi (pictured)

‘We can attack the White House itself, we can respond to them on the American soil. We have the power, and God willing we will respond in an appropriate time,’ Iranian MP Abolfazl Abutorabi (pictured) 

Soleimani, the architect of Tehran’s overseas clandestine and military operations as head of the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force, was killed on Friday in a US drone strike on his convoy at Baghdad airport.

On Saturday, Revolutionary Guards commander Major General Hossein Salami promised ‘a strategic revenge which will definitely put an end to the US presence in the region’.

However, Trump, who Iranian leaders branded as a ‘terrorist in a suit’, threatened to hit 52 critical targets in Iran in retaliation if Tehran strikes any American interests in the region. 

He upped the stakes after Iran said it had identified 35 targets for potential strikes and raised its red ‘flags of revenge’ over a key mosque.

Meanwhile, Iran placed an $80million bounty on Trump’s head and threatened to attack the White House in response to his warning.

An organizer for a funeral procession for General Qassem Soleimani called on all Iranians to donate $1 each ‘in order to gather an $80million bounty on President Trump’s head’. 

The organizer made the remarks during the procession in Mashad.

Iran has also announced it they will no longer abide by any of the limits of its 2015 nuclear deal. 

British Prime Minister Boris Johson called for a ‘de-escalation’ of violent tensions in the Middle East earlier today, before the latest rocket attack. 

Iraqi protesters gather as smoke rises from a burning truck after clashes between protesters and an unknown armed group, suspected to be Shia militia members, in Nasiriyah today

Iraqi protesters gather as smoke rises from a burning truck after clashes between protesters and an unknown armed group, suspected to be Shia militia members, in Nasiriyah today

Violence broke out Nasiriyah

Nasiriyah saw clashes between Shiite militias and Iraqi youth demonstrators

Protesters in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah blocked a mourning procession for Soleimani and top Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis 

Iraqi parliamentarians voted on a resolution to remove the US troops and cancel the security agreement between Iraq and US

Iraqi parliamentarians voted on a resolution to remove the US troops and cancel the security agreement between Iraq and US

Donald Trump meanwhile warned Congress on Sunday that he would ‘strike back’ harder at Iran if it retaliates against the U.S. for taking out Soleimani.

‘These Media Posts will serve as notification to the United States Congress that should Iran strike any U.S. person or target, the United States will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner,’ Trump tweeted Sunday afternoon.

‘Such legal notice is not required, but is given nevertheless!’ he continued.

Earlier today, Iraq’s parliament voted in favour of a resolution to remove foreign troops from the country, in response to the US drone attack. 

Iranians surround a vehicle carrying the coffin of Qasem Soleimani in the city of Mashhad, in northeastern Iran

Iranians surround a vehicle carrying the coffin of Qasem Soleimani in the city of Mashhad, in northeastern Iran

Demonstrators attend a protest against the killing of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who died in an air strike at Baghdad airport, outside the US Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey

Demonstrators attend a protest against the killing of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who died in an air strike at Baghdad airport, outside the US Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey

Iranians gather around a vehicle carrying the coffins of slain major general Qassem Soleimani and others, as they pay homage in the northeastern city of Mashhad

Iranians gather around a vehicle carrying the coffins of slain major general Qassem Soleimani and others, as they pay homage in the northeastern city of Mashhad

People carry the casket of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani upon arrival at Ahvaz International Airport in Tehran on Sunda. The casket was greeted by chants of 'Death to America' as Iran issued new threats of retaliation

People carry the casket of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani upon arrival at Ahvaz International Airport in Tehran on Sunda. The casket was greeted by chants of ‘Death to America’ as Iran issued new threats of retaliation

Around 5,000 US soldiers are currently stationed in Iraq, to aid the fight against ISIS.

But today, lawmakers approved a resolution asking the government to end a security agreement between Iraq and the US and expel American forces. 

There are fears that a potential US troop withdrawal could allow a resurgence of the extremists.

While parliamentary resolutions are non-binding to the government, this one is likely to be heeded after outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdihad earlier called on parliament to end foreign troop presence as soon as possible.

It came as sectarian violence broke out across the country in response to the assassination of Major-General Soleimani in a US drone strike on his convoy at Baghdad airport on Friday. 

Elsewhere in the country Iraqi protesters flooded the streets today to denounce both Iran and the US as ‘occupiers’, angry that fears of war between the rivals was derailing their anti-government movement. 

For three months, youth-dominated rallies in the capital and Shiite-majority south have condemned Iraq’s ruling class as corrupt, inept and beholden to Iran.  

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