UPDATED
Dark pillars of smoke were seen rising from areas of Iraq’s capital early on Sunday morning Baghdad time after rocket strikes purportedly caused at least four explosions in or near the city’s Green Zone, though the U.S. Embassy was left unharmed, according to local reports and witnesses.
Reuters reported that several blasts hit a U.S.-led coalition military base located next to the embassy, citing an unnamed United States military official.
Rocket strikes that Washington blames on Iran-backed militias have regularly hit near and sometimes on the embassy.
Video has emerged that appears to show a black pillar of smoke billowing from the eastern neighbourhood of Zayouna.
At least four explosions were heard from the direction of the capital’s Green Zone where the embassy is located, The Washington Post’s Mustafa Salim reported.
Sirens were triggered as jets were spotted flying over the area, according to multiple witnesses.
Columns of smoke were spotted rising from areas in Baghdad, including near the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces, an Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella organization made up of some 40 mostly Shia Muslim militias.
No government or organization has claimed responsibility for the alleged strikes.
Washington has yet to comment.
©️Breaking911 — Eli Ridder. Image via Centcom.
