3 rockets fired into Baghdad's Green Zone as protests grow; no casualties

Two of the rockets reportedly landed in the vicinity of the U.S. Embassy.

ByMark Osborne and Cindy Smith
January 20, 2020, 7:04 PM

Three rockets were fired into Baghdad's Green Zone, the heavily fortified area of the capital that houses the U.S. Embassy, government buildings and U.S. service members.

The Katyusha rockets landed "in the vicinity of the Green Zone," but caused no casualties, according to Iraqi officials.

A U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad said they could hear the rockets at the military and embassy compound areas.

Rocket attacks on the Green Zone are very common.

PHOTO: Security forces try to disperse anti-government protesters during clashes in central Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Jan. 20, 2020.
Security forces try to disperse anti-government protesters during clashes in central Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Jan. 20, 2020. Iraqi security forces also used live rounds, wounding over a dozen protesters, medical and security officials said, in continuing violence as anti-government demonstrators make a push to revive their movement in Baghdad and the southern provinces.
Hadi Mizban/AP

There were at least two attacks just weeks ago, including most recently on on Jan. 8 and previously on Jan. 4 and 5. There were no known casualties in any of the attacks.

The rocket attacks early in January were attributed to a response to the U.S. drone attack that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani outside Baghdad Airport.

Protests again surged in Baghdad on Monday with at least three people killed and dozens more injured, according to The Associated Press.

Fourteen Iraqi police officers were among the wounded, AP reported.

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