The US State Department comments on the repeated bombing of the Green Zone and its embassy
The US State Department comments on the repeated bombing of the Green Zone and its embassy
7/6/2020 11:50
[Baghdad-Wayne]
A US State Department spokesman confirmed that the Ministry is aware of reports of rockets falling on the international {green} area in the center of the capital, Baghdad.
The spokesman said that the Iraqi security services are leading the investigation into this matter.
He added that the threat of missile attacks “is dangerous not only for us, but for the Iraqi government, neighboring diplomatic missions, and residents of the former international zone and surrounding areas.”
The State Department spokesman recalled the remarks made by Secretary of State Michael Pompeo last Wednesday in which he commended the Iraqi government for bringing all armed groups under their control, including those that fire missiles at Iraqi government facilities.
Minister Pompeo also said that “the presence of these outlaw actors remains the greatest obstacle to additional assistance or economic investment” for the country.
He added that “the world in order to help Iraq, Iraq must help itself first, and that Baghdad’s actions are a step in the right direction and we commend it.”
The US State Department’s statements came after reports that, on Sunday night, Baghdad airport was hit by an unexploded missile, according to Iraqi media.
However, the Security Media Cell denied that a Katyusha rocket landed near the Baghdad International Airport terminal.
“The Baghdad Operations Command did not indicate any launch of rockets until 0050 hours, and we call on the media to be precise and take information exclusively from the security media cell,” a cell statement said Sunday.
The Katyusha missile had targeted earlier on Sunday the Green Zone, where the United States embassy is located in Baghdad, in a new attack on American interests.
Since October 2019, more than 33 missiles have targeted Iraqi facilities hosting diplomats or foreign soldiers, as well as the US embassy in Baghdad.
alliraqnews.com
