Iraq's top Shia leaders condemn rocket attack on US embassy, call for state of emergency

Influential Shia leaders of Iraq have separately condemned the rocket attack against the US embassy in Baghdad, calling on the Iraqi government to protect diplomatic missions against such “uncontrolled” attacks by “outlaw” groups.

In a tweet on Sunday night, Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr said he is “ready to cooperate” with the Iraqi government in protecting civilians and diplomatic missions.

"No one has the right to use weapons outside the jurisdiction of the state,” the top cleric said.

Anyone who does so is either “a terrorist or outside of the Sharia [Islamic law] and the law,” he added, condemning the rocket attack against the US embassy in the heavily fortified Green Zone of Baghdad earlier in the day.

He said those who launch such attacks are putting the civilians in danger “under the pretext of resisting the occupation.”

The rockets, which were fired late on Sunday, landed close to the US diplomatic mission, causing sirens blaring within the compound without any casualties apart from some material damage.

Following the attack, the Iraqi military said in a statement that an "outlaw group" had fired rockets at Baghdad's Green Zone, Reuters reported.

The rockets hit a residential complex inside the Green Zone, damaging buildings and cars, but causing no casualties, the statement added.

Katyusha rockets land near US embassy in Baghdad’s highly fortified Green Zone

Baghdad’s highly-secured Green Zone is rocked once again by three Katyusha rockets fired at the US embassy.

In his tweet, Muqtada al-Sadr also advised the US embassy to avoid responding to the rocket attack, but leave the matter to Iraq, as Iraq “is the sovereign, not you.”

Sadr condemned American influence in Iraq, urging the Iraqi parliament to negotiate with the US embassy in order to put an end to its "occupation, control and interference in Iraqi affairs” in a way that preserves Iraq's security.

Kata’ib Hezbollah condemns ‘uncontrolled, random attack’

Qais al-Khazali, the other influential Shia cleric and leader of Kata’ib Hezbollah resistance group, denied any responsibility on the side of the Iraqi resistance for the attack on the embassy in Baghdad.

Khazali said in a tweet, "The decision of Iraqi Resistance Coordination Commission is not to target the US embassy in the first place."

"It is our right to liberate our country and avenge our martyrs, but we specify the time to respond and it is not far away,” he added.

Kata’ib Hezbollah also said in a statement the rockets attack on the US embassy in Baghdad is an "uncontrolled" act, calling on the government to take the necessary steps to arrest the perpetrators.

"We condemn the indiscriminate attack against the US embassy, ​​as it poses a threat to civilian lives," the group said, calling on "the United States to suspend the military activities in the area for the residents’ safety."

The US Embassy has been targeted several times this year, amid heightened anti-American sentiments in the Arab country in the aftermath of the US assassination of Iran’s anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, and the deputy head of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, in Baghdad on January 3.

The US has drawn down staff members at the embassy this month before the first anniversary of the assassination. US officials said the decision stemmed from concerns about a possible retaliatory strike.

In September, Washington warned Iraq that it would close its embassy in Baghdad if the government failed to take decisive action to end rocket and other attacks on American and allied interests in the country.

When the US announced the intention to withdraw troops from the country in November, a group of influential resistance groups announced a ceasefire to allow the process to take place safely.

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