U.S. embassy in Baghdad attacked by rockets, minor damage reported

The U.S. embassy in Baghdad sustained minor damage but no casualties to Americans Sunday night when it was struck by rockets from an outlawed Iraqi group.

“We have received reports of damage to residential areas near the U.S. Embassy and possibly some injuries to innocent Iraqi civilians,” the embassy said in a statement on Twitter confirming the attack.

“As we have said many times these sorts of attacks on diplomatic facilities are a violation of international law and are a direct assault on the sovereignty of the Iraqi government,” the embassy added. “We call on all Iraqi political and governmental leaders to take steps to prevent such attacks and hold accountable those responsible.”

The Iraqi government said an outlawed group fired eight rockets, and one Iraqi civilian was injured. U.S. officials said the embassy activated its anti-rocket and anti-mortar defense systems to fend off the worst damage.