Three rockets hit Baghdad’s Green Zone injuring at least seven

Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least seven members of the security forces were injured as three rockets landed in Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone on Wednesday.

Iraqi security media cell reported that three rockets landed in Baghdad’s green zone.

“The first landed in front of the Iraqi parliament building,” the cell said.

The rockets fell as the Iraqi parliament held its first session since deadly unrest took over the capital city last month to vote on the resignation of parliamentary speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi “directed the security forces to pursue and arrest the perpetrators of the missile bombing attack on the Green Zone,” a statement from his office read.

The United Nations’ mission in Iraq called on all parties to refrain from violence.

No group has taken credit for the rocket attacks on the Green Zone.

The attack comes less than a month after the Green Zone witnessed deadly clashes between pro-Iran militias and followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who had arranged sit-ins at the Iraqi parliamentary building for weeks prior.

Iraq held snap parliamentary elections in October but disagreements have prevented political parties from electing a president and a prime minister just under a year after elections were held, setting a record.

The situation escalated in late July after Sadrist demonstrators stormed the Iraqi parliament, demanding its dissolution and holding early elections. Later in August, the Shiite cleric called on Iraq's judiciary to dissolve the parliament and protestors flocked to the council's building, despite it affirming that it does not reserve the right to interfere in legislative or executive matters and therefore cannot dissolve the parliament.

Prior to the parliamentary session on Wednesday, Sadr supporters flocked to the streets of Baghdad in attempts to block the parliament from convening, but were prevented by heavy security presence in the Green Zone.

Kadhimi “called on the demonstrators to abide by the peacefulness guidelines and the security forces' orders regarding the demonstration places,” in his statement.