Five Baghdad civilians killed in rocket attack

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — At least five civilians have been killed in rocket fire near Baghdad airport Monday evening, according to Iraqi security forces. 

"Criminal gangs and outlawed groups targeted the house of a peaceful family and completely destroyed it, causing the martyrdom of five people," reads a statement from Baghdad Operations Command published by state media. Three children and two women were killed in the attack, with an additional two injured, added the statement.

The Command says the attack's launch site has been identified.

Monday's attack comes as US official warn they will pull their diplomatic mission from Baghdad should Iraq nor reign in those responsible for increasing attack on international targets in central and southern Iraq.

Convoys driven by Iraqis and contracted by the US-led coalition have come under almost daily attacks in recent months.

Diplomatic missions have also come under attack. A British diplomatic vehicle hit an IED in Baghdad earlier this month and a blast at an English-language institute in Najaf’s city centre on September 18 caused substantial material damage. 

The attack on the British embassy vehicle was condemned by influential Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and the commander of Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah, Abu Ali al-Askari. 

Diplomatic targets are more often hit by missiles within Baghdad's Green Zone, home to foreign diplomatic offices and Iraqi government buildings. Two Katyusha rockets fired at the American embassy in mid-September were intercepted by a US air defense system. Three mortars landed in the area on Tuesday morning.

Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has ordered investigations into security forces responsible for securing the area, according to state media. 

Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr called on Iraqis in a tweet late Monday to prevent further security escalations in the country, saying they must avoid "civil war or Shiite-Shiite or sectarian conflicts." 

The US Embassy and Iraqi military bases hosting coalition troops have been repeatedly targeted since the US assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad in January. 

It is believed that the Iran-backed Islamic Front for Resistance inside Iraq (al-Muqawama) is responsible. Its aim is to force US troops to withdraw from the country and units of the group have claimed responsibility for similar attacks.