The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was targeted by a barrage of mortar fire early on Friday, according to a U.S. military official who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity.
The official said that about seven mortar rounds landed inside the embassy compound, while more may have been fired but missed. The attack caused only minor damage to the embassy buildings and no injuries to the staff, the official added.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran in the region. The U.S. has accused Iran of supporting militia groups that have launched rocket attacks on U.S. facilities and personnel in Iraq in the past.
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad is one of the largest and most fortified diplomatic missions in the world, with a perimeter of about 4 km (2.5 miles) and a staff of thousands. The embassy has been frequently targeted by rocket and mortar attacks, especially since the U.S. killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike near Baghdad airport in January 2020.
The U.S. has recently announced plans to reduce its troop presence in Iraq from about 2,500 to 2,000 by January 2021, as part of a broader strategy to end the U.S. military involvement in the Middle East. However, the U.S. has also vowed to defend its interests and allies in the region from any Iranian aggression.
