A barrage of rockets shot at the US Embassy in Baghdad on Dec. 20 has once again raised questions and tensions, drawing criticism even from several prominent Iraqi armed groups linked to Iran.

A Dec. 23 US Central Command Statement claimed that 21 rockets had been shot, noting that: "The Dec. 20, 2020 rocket attack on the green zone in Iraq was almost certainly conducted by an Iranian-backed Rogue Militia Group" and "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".

The attack caused material damage to residential buildings nearby and injured at least one Iraqi security official but did not harm any foreign nationals. Allegations of more casualties among Iraqi civilians could not be verified but previous such attacks in the recent past have killed Iraqi civilians.

An Iraqi military statement said an “outlaw” group had conducted the attack, in which eight rockets were fired at Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, where the US Embassy is located.