Three Katyusha rockets were fired at the Green Zone, home to government offices and diplomatic missions, at 2:00 Thursday morning, the Security Media Cell announced. None landed near the American embassy. One fell near the headquarters of the National Security Agency, one hit a square, and the third landed in a residential neighbourhood where it damaged one car.
The spokesperson for the US-led global coalition against the Islamic State group (ISIS), Col. Wayne Marotto, said each one of these attacks "undermines the authority of Iraqi institutions, the rule of law and Iraqi National sovereignty. These attacks endanger the lives of Iraqi civilians, & the partner forces from the ISF [Iraqi Security Forces], Peshmerga & Coalition."
The day before, 14 rockets were fired at Anbar’s Ain al-Asad airbase, which houses international troops with the coalition against the Islamic State group (ISIS). Two personnel sustained minor injuries, according to the coalition.
Across the border in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor province, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced they foiled a drone attack on the al-Omar oilfield, where the SDF and coalition troops are stationed.
These attacks are blamed on Iranian-backed Iraqi militias that want to force American troops to withdraw from the country.
The European Union's ambassador to Baghdad warned that these attacks will create instability in the run-up to October elections. "Continuing attacks over the past weeks targeting bases, airports, consulates and embassies are again threatening and challenging the Iraqi State, while aiming at renewed confrontation and increased political instability during the run-up to Iraq’s forthcoming elections," Martin Huth tweeted.
Updated at 12:15 pm
