3 mortar shells land near Baghdad Green Zone
Three mortar shells have fallen in the vicinity of Baghdad’s Green Zone, a few days after protesters broke into the high-security area, Iraqi officials say.
According to a military statement, the rounds were fired from al Qanat Street, in eastern parts of the capital, and landed in Karrada neighborhood, less than one kilometer from the zone.
It was the first such attack near the heavily-fortified zone, which houses government buildings and foreign embassies, in more than a year.
The explosions, which took place on the opposite side of the Tigris river, caused no casualties, and no group has yet claimed responsibility for the assault, but it bears the hallmark of terrorists affiliated with the Daesh Takfiri terror group.
On Friday, thousands of protesters apparently frustrated with the government’s failure to push anti-corruption reforms briefly broke into the Green Zone for the second time in three weeks, challenging the government’s competence.
The shells also came as the Iraqi forces are almost at the doorsteps of the Daesh-held city of Fallujah in the western Anbar province and are advancing towards the strategic city. In a televised speech late on Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the start of the operation, promising the nation that the “Iraqi flag will rise” again in Fallujah.
Violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since Daesh Takfiris launched an offensive in the country in June 2014, and took control of portions of the Iraqi territory, including Mosul, which currently serves as their de facto capital on the Iraqi soil.
The terrorists have been committing crimes against all ethnic and religious communities in Iraq, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians and others. Iraqi army soldiers and fighters from allied Popular Mobilization Units are fighting to win back militant-held regions in joint operations.
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