Pompeo accuses pro-Iranian groups of carrying out an attack on Green Zone

The Iraqi army and the US Embassy in Baghdad announced, on Sunday evening that at least eight Katyusha rockets landed in the heavily fortified Green Zone in the Iraqi capital in an attack targeting the US embassy.

Pompeo said in a tweet on his Twitter account this morning: "Once again, Iranian-backed militias blatantly and recklessly attack areas in Baghdad, which led to the injury of Iraqi civilians."

Pompeo called for the attackers, whom he described as "criminals, to be held accountable," saying: "The Iraqi people deserve to see these attackers prosecuted, and these violent and corrupt criminals must stop their destabilizing actions in the country.

This attack comes after the commander of the US Central Command in the Middle East (Santecom), General Frank McKenzie, confirmed that his country is "ready to respond" if Iran attacks them, saying: "We are ready to defend ourselves and our friends and allies in the region, and we are ready to respond if be needed."

"I see that we are in a very good position, and that we will be prepared, whatever the Iranians and their allies decide to do," McKenzie added.

A security official whose office is located inside the Green Zone explained that an anti-missile system had been set up to defend the US embassy, ​​and was able to divert one of those missiles.

The Iraqi army said: The "outlaw" group fired rockets at the Green Zone.

The US embassy condemned the attack and called on all Iraqi political and governmental leaders to take steps to prevent such attacks and hold those responsible accountable.

The embassy said in a statement: "The missiles that targeted the international zone led to a response to the defense systems of the embassy, ​​and caused minor damage to the embassy compound, but there were no injuries or casualties."

Armed groups announced last October that they had suspended missile attacks on US forces on the condition that the Iraqi government provide a timetable for the withdrawal of those forces from the country.

T/S

ANHA