Rocket falls inside Baghdad's Green Zone

The attack on the heavily protected area is the second this week

Iraqi counter-terrorism forces stand guard in front of the US embassy in the capital Baghdad on August, 8, 2020. AFP

A Katyusha rocket landed in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, causing damage to an empty building and no casualties, Iraqi police sources said on Saturday.

Sirens blasted from the US embassy inside the zone, which houses government buildings and foreign missions, and helicopters were hovering above, the sources said.

It was the second such attack this week after three rockets landed in the Green Zone on Thursday, also causing no casualties.

Washington blames such attacks on Iranian-backed militia groups. Iran has not directly commented on the incidents but little-known groups believed to be connected to Iran-aligned militias have claimed some attacks.

Iraq, often the scene of spillover violence from US-Iran tensions, seeks to avoid being drawn into any regional conflagration.

The Middle East came close to a full conflict in January after a U.S. drone strike killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis at Baghdad airport.

Iran-aligned militias have sworn to avenge their deaths.