Loud explosions believed to be from rockets fired at the Green Zone in Baghdad erupted a day after Iran launched missiles at two bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops.
There are reports that at least two projectiles were fired toward the Green Zone, which houses the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, late Wednesday night local time.
Fox News reporter Trey Yingst posted a video near the area of the attacks, which has sirens blaring in the background.
BREAKING: Rocket fire into Baghdad’s Green Zone pic.twitter.com/HaPcDaF22Z
— Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) January 8, 2020
Authorities in Iraq are reporting that two Katyusha rockets hit the heavily fortified area. There have not yet been reports of damage or casualties. It is also not clear who fired the rockets, although Iran-affiliated militia groups have carried out attacks in the region in recent weeks.
WATCH: Air raid siren wails at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad as explosions are heard pic.twitter.com/4uy0wJxrCm
— BNO News (@BNONews) January 8, 2020
A Kurdish journalist released photos purporting to be from one of the rockets that were fired.
The debris of Katyusha rocket that fell in the vicinity of #US embassy in #Baghdad. pic.twitter.com/RbJYaVjMB4
— Barzan Sadiq (@BarzanSadiq) January 8, 2020
The news comes the same day that President Trump announced Iran “appears to be standing down” after the country launched over a dozen ballistic missiles at two military bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops.
Tensions have been simmering between Iran and the United States after the militia groups launched a series of attacks on U.S. assets in Iraq, including the death of an American defense contractor. On New Year’s Eve, angry protesters stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
The U.S. killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani last week in a drone strike, prompting the missile attack from Iran Tuesday night.
