RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned the attack that took place on Sunday targeting the Green Zone in Baghdad. In a statement posted on its official Twitter handle, the Saudi foreign ministry said: "The Kingdom strongly condemns and denounces the terrorist act that targeted the Green Zone in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad." "The Kingdom affirms its support for Iraq and stands by Iraq in the measures it takes to preserve its security and stability, and to maintain its sovereignty, and to protect the lives of the citizens and residents of its territory," the statement added. According to a statement issued by the Iraqi military, as many as eight rockets were fired toward the Green Zone, a heavily fortified area in Baghdad. At least one Iraqi soldier injured when a rocket landed near an Iraqi security checkpoint, the military said. The Iraqi military also said that most of the rockets hit the Qadisiya residential neighborhood near the US Embassy, damaging several buildings and cars. The US Embassy said minor damage was caused to the embassy compound but that there were no injuries or casualties. A spokesman for the Iraqi president issued a statement saying "targeting the Green Zone is a terrorist act that endangers the security and lives of innocent citizens and their property. "It represents a targeting of the country's sovereignty and national efforts to preserve the state's prestige," the statement said. "Targeting diplomatic missions undermines Iraq's international reputation and its foreign relations." Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed Iran-backed militias for the attack. "The United States strongly condemns the latest attack by Iran-backed militias on the International Zone in Baghdad. While no Embassy personnel were harmed, the attack caused at least one Iraqi civilian casualty and damaged Iraqi civilian property," Pompeo said in a statement.
