Katyusha rocket lands near US embassy in Baghdad

No reports of casualties and no claim of responsibility

epa07585615 The building of U.S.A. embassy is seen in the heavily fortified green zone in central Baghdad, Iraq, 19 May 2019. Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses the Iraqi government headquarters and US embassy among other embassies, was hit by a Katyusha rocket on 19 May 2019 without any casualties, Iraqi security officials said. EPA/MURTAJA LATEEF ALTERNATIVE CROP

The US embassy building in the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad, Iraq. EPA

Jun 10, 2020

A Katyusha rocket was fired at the US embassy compound in Baghdad on Wednesday, setting off sirens in the area.

The attack was first reported by Iraqi news outlets just before midnight local time.

The reports said the rocket was launched from nearby Al Shaab International Stadium in Baghdad. Iraqi military sources confirmed the attack.

Footage overlooking the Green Zone, #Baghdad, #Iraq after the Katyusha attack. pic.twitter.com/FQJKjcovPM
— Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) June 10, 2020

There were no reports of casualties and earlier footage suggested the rocket landed in the Green Zone area but outside the embassy compound.

It landed near the US-Iraqi joint operations centre in the Green Zone, Al Hadath news channel reported.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Khadimi tours Al Nuri Mosque, destroyed by ISIS and being rebuilt with assistance from the UAE. Iraqi PM Media Office HO

Iraqi Prime Minister vows to rebuild Mosul three years after ISIS evicted

Congress Republicans table largest sanctions plan against Iran

The attack comes on the sixth anniversary of the ISIS takeover of Mosul in Iraq, and on the eve of US-Iraqi strategic dialogue set to begin on Thursday.

The event will be happening online between officials in Baghdad and Washington.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack but similar attacks using Katyusha rockets in the past have been carried out by pro-Iran militias in the country.

Gen. Mckenzie @CENTCOM:
Since US killing of Qassem Suleiman, we are at "contested deterrence" with #Iran. They kept testing till they found US redline, one they didn't expect. They're recalculating since.

Iran doesn't doubt US capabilities, but out will to act. Now they don't
— Firas Maksad (@FirasMaksad) June 10, 2020

The head of US Central Command, Gen Kenneth McKenzie, told the Middle East Institute on Wednesday that the US-Iran standoff in Iraq was a "contested deterrence" since the US killed Iran's Revolutionary Guard leader Qassem Suleimani in January.