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On May 28, the Iraqi Security Media Cell announced that the Federal Police had thwarted a rocket attack on an unspecified target in the capital Baghdad.
An improvised rocket launched loaded with three “Katyusha” [107 mm] rockets and wired to a timer was found in the al-Jihad neighborhood, which is located around 5 kilometers to the east of Baghdad International Airport.
“A security force uncovered a rocket launcher prepared to target certain places close to the al-Jihad neighborhood in Baghdad,” an Iraqi security source told the Shafaq News agency. “The launcher was removed and dismantled without any incident.”
Iraqi sources speculated that the rockets were aimed at Baghdad International Airport, where US troops are known to be deployed. A US military installation known as “Victoria Base” is located in the airport.
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On May 2, two rockets were launched at Victoria Base. One of the rockets was intercepted by the US military’s C-RAM [Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar] system. No losses were reported as a result of the attack.
Washington routinely blames pro-Iranian Iraqi armed groups for such attacks on its troops and diplomats. US forces respond to any attack that result in fatalities.
These attacks are meant to push US forces out of the country as a response to the assassination of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Deputy-Commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units, and Commander of Iran’s Quds Force, Qassim Soleimani.