Main Pic: View of U.S. Embassy in Baghdad from across the Tigris River, 03 January 2020.
(Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images)
Over 20 rockets were reportedly fired toward the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq this past Sunday night. Damage to property in the compound is reported to be “minor” and no U.S. personnel sustained injury. Some U.S. reports say it was only eight small rockets that were launched toward our property while Mehr News Agency reports at least three Katyusha rockets landed near the compound. Embassy personnel activated the C-RAM defense system which successfully repelled the attack. Installed in the Baghdad compound earlier this year, the C-RAM system intercepts missiles in mid-air, eliminating same before they are able to reach their intended target.
Buildings and cars in residential areas of the heavily fortified Green Zone have suffered damage and there are reports of injured Iraqi citizens. It is unclear if this is the result of incoming missiles or fallout from the C-RAM defense system.
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad released the following statement via Twitter, 20 December 2020:
“The U.S. Embassy confirms rockets targeting the International Zone resulted in the engagement of Embassy defensive systems. There was some minor damage on the Embassy compound but no injuries or casualties. We have received reports of damage to residential areas near the U.S. Embassy and possibly some injuries to innocent Iraqi civilians. 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. We call on all Iraqi political and governmental leaders to take steps to prevent such attacks and hold accountable those responsible.”
Attacks on the Embassy have re-emerged since President Trump announced 17 November 2020 that the U.S. would begin decreasing troop presence in Iraq, bringing 500 of the 3,000 warriors currently stationed in the region back home. The troop withdrawal announcement has given birth to fresh acts of terrorism against U.S. personnel and property located in Baghdad. Sunday’s rocket fire may be a continuation of this new wave of resistance. Or, it could be Iranian retaliation for past U.S. military actions.
January 3 marks the first anniversary of a successful U.S. operation that took the lives of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, founder of the Iranian-backed militia Kata’ib Hezbollah. The strike occurred just outside of Baghdad airport, sparking a wave of outrage and non-binding parliamentary action where Shi’ite Iraqi officials called for the expulsion of all foreign troops from Iraq. A few weeks ago, staffing at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was temporarily reduced in anticipation of potential retaliation for this January 2019 incident.
Per Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Iranian-backed militia groups are “the most serious impediment to helping Iraq return to peace and prosperity.” Pompeo issued the following statement on Sunday nights rocket strike via the official Secretary of State Twitter account:
“Iran-backed militias once again flagrantly and recklessly attacked in Baghdad, wounding Iraqi civilians. The people of Iraq deserve to have these attackers prosecuted. These violent and corrupt criminals must cease their destabilizing actions.”
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi called the attack an act of terror, declaring that a number of suspects had already been arrested.
“Yesterday’s bombing of the Green Zone is a cowardly act of terrorism, and the missiles landed on Iraqis and wounded them, and we will not accept any attack on diplomatic missions,” he said.
The Iraqi military has blamed the attack on an “outlaw group” but has not named who that may be.
Militias and other resistance groups in Iran are denying their involvement, which is the general modus operandi when civilian casualties are involved. Kata’ib Hezbollah has been the most vocal in denouncing the attack, including the usual anti-American hate.
“Shelling of the embassy of Satan [U.S. Embassy] in current circumstances is an uncontrolled and undisciplined behavior and the competent authorities should prosecute the perpetrators of this attack.”
Their statement also condemns U.S. use of the C-RAM system, saying such “arbitrary measures” endanger civilian safety.
The Iranian’s official stance is that 23 rockets were fired at the U.S. Embassy complex, damaging buildings belonging to the U.S. Embassy as well as Iraqi civilian property. Spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Saeed Khatibzadeh, shared his perspective on the attack during his weekly press conference on Monday:
“But the kind and timing of this attack [on the U.S. embassy], as well as the statement issued by the U.S. secretary of state, show that [the attack] is very dubious. Its timing is dubious. And more importantly, it seems that as if they had already prepared a statement to publish. And I strongly condemn the remarks of the U.S. regime’s secretary of state, who is known for his lies and cheating, whether in his current capacity or in his previous capacity as the CIA director. Therefore, I firmly and strongly condemn the remarks by the U.S. secretary of state.”
Khatibzadeh expressed certainty that Iraqi officials would find the responsible party and warned the United States against escalating tensions or indulging in any other “warmongering” ways.
Everybody has something to say about this failed attempt to destroy U.S. property and lives, some are more interesting than are some others. Yesterday, Capt. Bill Urban, Spokesman for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) released a formal statement regarding Sunday’s attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. CENTCOM oversees troops in the Middle East and Asia.
“The Dec. 20, 2020 rocket attack on the green zone in Iraq was almost certainly conducted by an Iranian-backed Rogue Militia Group. While this 21 rocket attack caused no U.S. injuries or casualties, the attack did damage buildings in the U.S. Embassy compound, and was clearly NOT intended to avoid casualties.
These groups are Iranian-backed because Iran provides both material support and direction. They are rogue because they are actually acting on behalf of Iranian interests and direction in a direct betrayal of Iraqi sovereignty. It is important for the people of Iraq to understand that past attacks by the Iranian-backed Rogue Militia Groups have killed more Iraqi civilians and members of the Iraqi Security Forces than they have killed Americans. The United States will hold Iran accountable for the deaths of any Americans that result from the work of these Iranian-backed Rogue Militia Groups.”
The United States demonstrated there is some serious walk behind that serious talk. Three days ago, nuclear-power Ohio-class submarine the USS Georgia (SSGN 729) escorted by two Ticonderoga-class guided-missile carriers – the USS Port Royal (CG 73) and the USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) – crossed through the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Arabian Gulf. The United States Navy did something surprising by publicly announcing the maneuver, also sharing some capability details about the Fleet. USN rarely talks about what submarines are up to, where they may be or where they may be headed. Openly sailing the Georgia into the Arabian Gulf is, indeed, a clear message. USN announcement:
USS Georgia Transits Strait of Hormuz
21 December 2020
From Commander U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs
MANAMA, Bahrain – The nuclear-power Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Georgia (SSGN 729) along with the guided-missile cruisers USS Port Royal (CG 73) and USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) transited the Strait of Hormuz entering the Arabian Gulf, Dec. 21.
Georgia’s presence in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO) demonstrates the U.S. Navy’s ability to sail and operate wherever international law allows.
“As an inherently flexible maneuver force, capable of supporting routine and contingency operations, Georgia’s presence demonstrates the United States’ commitment to regional partners and maritime security with a full spectrum of capabilities to remain ready to defend against any threat at any time.
SSGNs are one of the most versatile platforms in the fleet, equipped with superior communications capabilities and the ability to carry up to 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles. The platform can also be configured to host up to 66 Special Operations Forces.
The 5th Fleet AOO encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The expanse is comprised of 20 countries and includes three chokepoints, critical to the free flow of global commerce.”
With all of the election hullabaloo, it can be easy to forget for a moment about our long time enemies in the Middle East. They don’t forget about us and will seize upon the slightest hint of national fracture or weakness to shove a wedge in, furthering the divide. Seems as though the real warmongers, the terrorists of an Islamic extremist variety, have overlooked one important fact when launching this most recent round of evil games, Donald Trump is still the President. And, using the official President of the United States Twitter account, the President of the United States of America has responded to this attack on our Embassy in Baghdad:
“Our embassy in Baghdad got hit Sunday by several rockets. Three rockets failed to launch. Guess where they were from: IRAN. Now we hear chatter of additional attacks against Americans in Iraq …
… Some friendly health advice to Iran: If one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over.”
Peace on Earth, Good will toward all of God’s children. God’s children. Ta Hades with Allah’s angry bastids. They do nothing but cause trouble.