Five Iraqi civilians, including two women and three children, have been killed after a rocket hit their house near the Baghdad airport. Two other children have also been wounded. No group has claimed the attack yet, however the airport is often the target of attacks as it houses the US military base.
There were at least 39 rocket and bomb attacks targeting the US base in Iraq between last October and July, according to AFP news agency. Since August, there has been almost the same number of attacks.
The government's failure to stop the attacks has caused tensions between the US and Iraq, with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threatening to close the US embassy in Iraq last week if prompt action is not taken on such attacks. If the US pulls back its diplomats, it will be seen as a major escalation of the confrontation with Iraq. This would increase the probability of military action ahead of the US elections - a critical point as Trump has campaigned on a hard-line towards Tehran.
Earlier this month the US also said it would reduce the number of troops in Iraq from 5,200 to 3,000.
Since the US killed top Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike, the US presence has been an issue in the country. The Iraqi parliament urged the government to "cancel the request for help it presented to the international coalition", but the advice was not implemented.
Written by Anushree Appandairajan
Artwork by Aurora Brooks
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