Four Rocket attacks hit central Baghdad on Thursday fell around the Iraqi capital’s Green Zone, home to government buildings and foreign missions, police said, intensifying political unrest.
Two police officers said there were no immediate reports of casualties from the attacks and no one had claimed responsibility. Several Shia Muslim militant groups have offices and supporters in eastern Baghdad.
A similar attack on Wednesday wounded seven members of the Iraqi security forces in the Green Zone, appearing to add a new dimension to the rivalry between power-hungry politicians.
Rocket attacks over the Green Zone have been regular in recent years, but they are usually directed at Western targets by Iranian-backed militia groups.
These attacks have been rare in recent months. Wednesday’s attack came as parliament was voting to confirm its speaker.
2 minutes read Sep 29, 2022 10:46 AM GMT+5 Last updated an hour ago
Rocket attacks hit central Baghdad for the second day amid growing unrest.
BAGHDAD, Sept 29 (Reuters) – Four rockets fired from eastern Baghdad on Thursday fell around the Iraqi capital’s Green Zone, home to government buildings and foreign missions, police said, as political unrest intensified. .
Two police officers said there were no immediate reports of casualties from the attacks and no one had claimed responsibility. Several Shia Muslim militant groups have offices and supporters in eastern Baghdad.
A similar attack on Wednesday wounded seven members of the Iraqi security forces in the Green Zone, appearing to add a new dimension to the rivalry between power-hungry politicians.
Rocket attacks over the Green Zone have been regular in recent years, but they are usually directed at Western targets by Iranian-backed militia groups.
These attacks have been rare in recent months. Wednesday’s attack came as parliament was voting to confirm its speaker.
The political crisis left Iraq without a government for nearly a year after elections last October.
The crisis has largely pitted the powerful populist Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, a political, religious and militia leader, against the ranks of mostly Iran-aligned political and militant groups.
The president, the landslide winner of the election, withdrew all his lawmakers from parliament in June and vowed not to convene parliament, fearing that other parties would form a government without them.
The standoff erupted into street clashes in central Baghdad in August that killed dozens. Many Iraqis fear the same could happen again.
