Iraqi politicians led by Muqtada al-Sadr and Hadi al-Amiri have called for US forces to leave the country. Sadr encouraged a “million person” protest Friday to evict the US. Iranian-backed Shi’ite militias have been targeting US forces for months with rocket attacks.The five Katyusha-style rockets are the latest attack on the US Embassy and the Green Zone around it. Three rockets hit near the same compound area on January 20.An attack last Monday ended with a rocket landing near the deputy ambassador’s residence, AFP reported. The US has evacuated most diplomatic personnel from the embassy since tensions with Iran rose in May.The US killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and Kataib Hezbollah leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis on January 3. Prior to that, Muhandis was alleged to have ordered a dozen rocket attacks on bases housing US forces in Iraq, including a December 27 attack that killed a US contractor near Kirkuk. Washington retaliated on December 29, bombing five Kataib Hezbollah sites.Previous rocket attacks occurred near the US Embassy on January 5 and 8 and last May, September and October.In 2005, a rocket hit the US Embassy, killing two Americans and wounding five people. The US Embassy compound in Baghdad is 104 acres, almost as large as Vatican City, and cost nearly $1 billion to build. It sits along the Tigris River and dwarfs other nearby compounds. It has its numerous layers of local and professional security.Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.#Breaking #Update Senior #US Defence official confirm that Katyusha rocket hit the #Embassy dining facility tonight. Decline comment on injuries but say there were no deaths. First time the embassy has actually been hit in a very long time. #AAM already released statement.
— Nafiseh Kohnavard (@nafisehkBBC) January 26, 2020
Rockets make 'direct hit' on US embassy, Baghdad, reportedly injuring one
At least one rocket hit a dining facility or cafeteria at the site. Sirens sounded in the compound directing people to seek shelter.
