Three injured in attack on US embassy in Baghdad

At least three people were injured in a missile attack that struck the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, state-run Anadolu Agency cited an Iraqi police source as saying on Jan. 27.

Unidentified persons launched five Katyusha rockets landed early on Jan. 27 in the heavily fortified Green Zone in Iraq's capital, some of which directly struck the U.S. Embassy which led to the burning of a restaurant inside the embassy compound, according to the security source.

"The shelling that targeted the American Embassy building and its surroundings wounded three people who were evacuated immediately by the American side," the police source told Anadolu Agency in condition of anonymity due to restrictions to speak to media.

The source did not mention the nationality of the injured people nor the severity of their injuries.

"The American forces, in charge of protecting the embassy, have shut all roads leading to the building and imposed strict security measures after the missile attack," the source noted.

Earlier, Iraq's caretaker Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi condemned the attack and ordered to bring those who are responsible for it to justice.

According to a statement, Abdul-Mahdi, warned that "the continuation of this irresponsible behavior may lead to serious repercussions and harm the country's higher interests and its relations with its friends,"

Meanwhile, the U.S. called on Iraq to protect American diplomatic facilities after the U.S. embassy in Baghdad was hit by three rockets.

"We call on the Government of Iraq to fulfill its obligations to protect our diplomatic facilities," a State Department spokesperson said in a statement.    

The attack marked a dangerous escalation in a spree of rocket attacks in recent...