The American embassy in Baghdad’s Green Zone became the target of rockets early today – in the first attack on the US embassy in the Iraqi capital since mid-October, when armed pro-Iranian groups began launching attacks against US troops or international coalition forces against jihadists in Iraq and Syria.

Today at approximately 04:14 (local time, 03:15 Greek time) “the US embassy was attacked with two rocket barrages,” confirmed a statement sent to AFP. It stated that no victims have been reported to the embassy.

There were no injuries or property damage from the attack, but the incident shows the risk of an escalation in the war between Israel and Hamas.

Currently no organization has claimed responsibility for the attack.

A spokesman for the US embassy called on the Iraqi government “to do everything it can to protect” the diplomatic staff and the international coalition against the jihadists, estimating that the attack has the stamp “militias close to Iran».

“We reiterate that we reserve the right of self-defense and the protection of our personnel anywhere in the world,” the US embassy spokesman added.

Pro-Iranian organizations justify their attacks by citing Washington’s support for Israel in its war against Hamas.

In retaliation the Pentagon has already launched several strikes against militants in Iraq and Syria close to Iran.

A US military official confirmed today that “multiple rockets” were fired at US and international forces near the US embassy in Baghdad and the Union III base, located in the Green Zone.

“No casualties or damage to infrastructure have been reported,” he clarified.

78 attacks

The dozens of attacks launched in recent weeks by pro-Iranian armed groups demonstrate the regional effects of the war between Israel and Hamas.

Most have been claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of armed groups close to Hashd al-Shaabi, a former paramilitary group that has been integrated into the Iraqi regular army.

In total, Washington has counted since October 17 at least 78 attacks against its forces in Iraq and Syria.

In addition, the US has confirmed several strikes in Iraq, the most recent of which occurred on December 3 in Kirkuk province.

The international coalition against the jihadists then launched a “self-defense” strike against “five fighters who were preparing to launch an attack drone,” according to Centcom, the US military’s Middle East command.

The five fighters were killed and the al-Nuzaba group, which is part of the Hashd al-Shaabi militia, released their portraits and held their funerals in Baghdad on Monday.

A day before the Kirkuk strike, during a phone call with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani reiterated “the commitment of the Iraqi government to protect the international coalition advisers in Iraq,” a report to the American military deployed in the country.