<\/p>\n
Salvoes of rockets were launched on Friday at the US embassy in Baghdad\u2019s heavily fortified Green Zone, the mission said, the latest in a flurry of such attacks amid Israel\u2019s bombardment of Gaza for the October 7 attack by Hamas.<\/p>\n
\u201cA multi-rocket attack was launched at US and coalition forces in the vicinity of Union III and the Baghdad embassy complex\u201d without causing any reported casualties or damage, a US official said.<\/p>\n
There was no immediate claim of responsibility.<\/p>\n
The United States leads an international coalition battling fighters in Iraq and neighbouring Syria, and its forces have come under repeated attacks in recent weeks.<\/p>\n
The attacks come against the backdrop of the more than two-month fightinh between US ally Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the US embassy said \u201ctwo salvoes of rockets\u201d were fired at the mission compound at around 4:15am (1:15am GMT).<\/p>\n
\u201cIndications are the attacks were initiated by Iran-aligned militias,\u201d said a US spokesperson. \u201cWe again call on the government of Iraq \u2026 to do all in its power to protect diplomatic and coalition partner personnel and facilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe reiterate that we reserve the right to self-defence and to protect our personnel anywhere in the world,\u201d the spokesperson added.<\/p>\n
Since mid-October, there have been dozens of rocket or drone strikes by pro-Iran groups against US or coalition forces in Iraq as well as in Syria.<\/p>\n
But Friday\u2019s rocket attack was the first against the US embassy in Baghdad since the crisis began on October 7, raising regional tensions and fears of a wider conflict.<\/p>\n