A number of rockets hit Baghdad’s closely fortified Inexperienced Zone internet hosting the US-led army coalition’s services in addition to the US embassy. One rocket was shot down by the US-installed protection methods.
Two rockets had been launched in direction of the Inexperienced Zone on Sunday morning native time, Iraqi safety forces have confirmed.
“The Inexperienced Zone in Baghdad was the goal of two Katyusha rockets. The primary was shot down within the air by C-RAM defence batteries, the second fell in a sq., damaging two autos,” they mentioned in a press release as reported by AFP.
Footage posted on social media purportedly reveals the second one of many projectiles was intercepted by the air protection methods, scrambled to answer the menace.
One of many two rockets reportedly landed merely 500 metres (1640 ft) from the US embassy, AFP reported, citing safety sources.
The brand new rocket assault comes because the December 31 deadline for the US fight troops to withdraw from the nation inches nearer. Final month, Baghdad denied reviews that the Western troops can be allowed to remain past that date, dismissing hypothesis of the deadline extension as “inaccurate”
Two rockets launched towards Baghdad’s Inexperienced Zone minutes in the past now, had been intercepted by US-installed C-RAM protection system. pic.twitter.com/hWnKLgCdgM
— Azhar Al-Rubaie | أزهر الربيعي (@AzherRubaie) December 19, 2021
Upon the tip of the fight mission, the remaining coalition forces would change to coaching, advising and helping Iraqi troops.
Whereas the change of the US-led coalition forces’ function within the nation has been billed because the “withdrawal” of the overseas troops, Reuters reported final week, citing safety officers, that the formal conclusion of the mission would have “little distinction” on the variety of the US troops stationed in Iraq.
Final week, prime US commander for the Center East, Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, revealed that the Pentagon doesn’t plan to place a lid on its army operations in Iraq, saying that the US forces would supply air help for the Iraqi troops taking over the Islamic State (IS, previously ISIS) militants.
McKenzie predicted that Washington’s intention to maintain some 2,500 troops it presently has in Iraq on the bottom is more likely to set off a “response” from “Iran-backed militias” because the deadline looms giant.
He insisted that the US gained’t budge on the calls for, nevertheless. “They really need all U.S. forces to depart, and all U.S. forces should not going to depart.”
