Rocket launched toward Green Zone in Baghdad injures child

A rocket launched toward the Green Zone in Baghdad, where the U.S. embassy is located, injured a child, the Iraqi military said Sunday.

The rocket was fired from the Ali Al-Saleh area of Baghdad and landed next to a house. Iraqi officials told The Associated Press the embassy recently tested its C-RAM air defense system on Saturday, which may have attempted to intercept the rocket. 

A police and a medical source confirmed to Reuters that a child was lightly injured in the attack after rocket fragments landed on a home. The police source said the rocket exploded in mid-air before it could strike the Green Zone.

U.S. officials have said that Iran-backed militia have attacked U.S. facilities in Iraq, including the embassy, with rockets. But no Iran-backed groups have owned up to the attacks, according to Reuters. 

The Iraqi military statement also said forces stopped a rocket from being fired at Camp Taji, a training base for U.S. and coalition forces. In March, one British and two American soldiers were killed after rockets were launched at the camp. 

Both attempted rocket attacks came after Iraqi forces raided the headquarters of Iran-backed group Kataib Hezbollah and arrested 14 men, accusing them of launching rockets at the Green Zone. All but one detainee were released, according to the news outlets.

The U.S. embassy’s security system was criticized by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hassan al-Kaabi, who called the system “illegal” and predicted it would “provoke the Iraqi people,” according to a government statement, AP reported.