Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
A rocket attack targets the US Embassy in Baghdad, causing minor damage but no casualties
FILE - The U.S. Embassy is seen from across the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 3, 2020. A rocket attack at the sprawling U.S. embassy in Baghdad Friday Dec. 8, 2023 caused minor material damage but no casualties, U.S. and Iraqi officials said. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed, File)
Latest News
December 8, 2023

A rocket attack targets the US Embassy in Baghdad, causing minor damage but no casualties

BAGHDAD (AP) — A rocket attack on the sprawling US Embassy in Baghdad caused minor damage but no casualties Friday morning, US and Iraqi officials said.

The attack is the first on the embassy located in the heavily fortified Green Zone of Iraq’s capital to be confirmed since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war. The Green Zone houses Iraqi government buildings and embassies on the west bank of the Tigris River.

Iran-backed militias in Iraq have claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks that targeted bases housing US troops in Iraq and Syria since Israel declared war on Hamas two months ago. The US military says 78 attacks have been carried out against US facilities over the past weeks, of which 37 were in Iraq and 41 in Syria.

An Iraqi security official said 14 Katyusha rockets were fired Friday, of which some struck near one of the US Embassy’s gates while others fell in the river. The official said the rocket attack caused material damage but no casualties.

A US military official said a multi-rocket attack was launched at American and coalition forces in the vicinity of the embassy complex and the Union III base, which houses offices of the US-led coalition. The official added that no casualties and no damage to infrastructure were reported.

An embassy spokesperson said the US Embassy was attacked by two salvos of rockets at approximately 4:15 am (0215 GMT).

“Assessments are ongoing, but there are no reported casualties on the embassy compound,” the official said, adding that no specific group had claimed responsibility for firing the rockets as of Friday morning but early indications pointed to Iran-aligned militias.

“We again call on the government of Iraq, as we have done on many occasions, to do all in its power to protect diplomatic and Coalition partner personnel and facilities,” the official said. “We reiterate that we reserve the right to self-defense and to protect our personnel anywhere in the world.”

The three officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a statement that “targeting diplomatic missions is something that cannot be justified.” He called the attack an “insult to Iraq, its stability and security,” and promised to “pursue the perpetratrors of the attack …and bring them to justice.”

Sudani came to power with the support of a coalition of Iran-backed parties. But he also wants continued good relations with the US and has backed the ongoing presence of American troops in his country.

While no group claimed responsibility for the embassy attack, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias, issued statements claiming separate attacks Friday on the al-Asad airbase in western Iraq, which is used by US forces, and on a base located at the Conoco gas field in eastern Syria.

There are roughly 2,500 US troops in Iraq and around 900 others in eastern Syria, on missions against the Islamic State group. In both countries, Iran has militias loyal to Tehran.

In response to attacks against American troops, the US has retaliated with airstrikes three times in Syria since October 17, targeting weapons depots and other facilities linked directly to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and the militias. The US also struck multiple sites in Iraq late last month after a militia group for the first time fired short-range ballistic missiles at US forces at al Asad air base.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Machado urges pressure so Maduro understands ‘he has to go’
International News, Latest News
Machado urges pressure so Maduro understands ‘he has to go’
December 12, 2025
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—Venezuela's Nobel peace prize laureate Maria Corina Machado is urging more pressure on strongman Nicolas Maduro to for...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Ocho Rios advance to Ben Francis Cup quarter-finals
Latest News, Sports
Ocho Rios advance to Ben Francis Cup quarter-finals
December 12, 2025
ST ANN, Jamaica — Ocho Rios High became the second team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the ISSA Ben Francis Cup on Friday after clipping Old Har...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Herbert Morrison win six straight in ISSA Under-16 basketball
Latest News, Sports
Herbert Morrison win six straight in ISSA Under-16 basketball
BY PAUL A REID Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com 
December 12, 2025
ST ANN, Jamaica — Herbert Morrison Technical made it six straight wins in the ISSA Rural Area Under-16 Zone B basketball competition after beating Yor...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Latest News, News
Market Bag: Lower prices at ‘Curry’ offer Jamaicans slight reprieve
December 12, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Shoppers at the Coronation Market in downtown Kingston are breathing a sigh of relief this week amid lower food prices following w...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Caribbean countries urged to provide more funding for health sector
Latest News, Regional
Caribbean countries urged to provide more funding for health sector
December 12, 2025
WASHINGTON,United States (CMC)—The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is urging countries in the Americas, including the Caribbean, to strengthen...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Reggae Girlz jump to 39th in final FIFA rankings of 2025
Latest News, Sports
Reggae Girlz jump to 39th in final FIFA rankings of 2025
December 12, 2025
Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz will end the year as the 39th best country in world football, based on the latest FIFA rankings. The national senior women’s te...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Trinidadians arrested on multi-million dollar drug seizure
Latest News, Regional
Trinidadians arrested on multi-million dollar drug seizure
December 12, 2025
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – The United States Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago on Friday said two Trinidadians have been arrested on charges of cons...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Three vehicles, motor vehicle parts recovered in St Catherine
Latest News, News
Three vehicles, motor vehicle parts recovered in St Catherine
BY KEDIESHA PERRY Observer writer 
December 12, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Three vehicles, along with motor vehicle parts were recovered during an intelligence-led operation by the St Catherine North police ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct