<p class="bodytext">A volley of rockets exploded near the US embassy in Baghdad on Sunday, as tensions mount ahead of the anniversary of the US killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.</p>.<p class="bodytext">AFP reporters in the Iraqi capital's east heard at least five booms, followed by whistling sounds.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A few moments later, they heard thunderous rapid-fire sounds and saw streams of red flares in the night sky, indicating the US embassy's C-RAM rocket defence system had been activated.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A security source told AFP at leat three rockets hit near the US diplomatic mission, while two others hit separate residential neighbourhoods.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The attack is the third on US military and diplomatic installations since a truce in October largely put an end to a year of rocket and roadside bomb attacks on foreign installations across Iraq.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The first, on November 17, saw a volley of rockets slam into the US embassy and various parts of the Iraqi capital, killing one young woman.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On December 10, two convoys transporting logistical equipment for the US-led coalition helping Iraqi troops fight jihadists were targeted with roadside bombs.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The attacks have been claimed by groups that both US and Iraqi officials have described as smokescreens for well-known Iran-aligned armed factions in Iraq.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Tensions have been high ahead of January 3 anniversary of the 2019 US drone strike in Baghdad that killed Soleimani and leading Iraqi paramilitary figure Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The US diplomatic mission has already partially withdrawn its staff due to security concerns, two senior Iraqi officials told AFP earlier this month.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They described the move as a "minor drawdown based on security reservations from the US side," and said it was not a rupture of diplomatic ties.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Iraqi and Western officials see a turbulent few weeks ahead of the White House handover from President Donald Trump, who has pursued a "maximum pressure" policy against Iran that has also squeezed its allies next door in Iraq.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They did not rule out last-minute military action by the Trump administration on Iranian interests in Iraq, or a possible escalation by Iran-backed groups around Baghdad.</p>
<p class="bodytext">A volley of rockets exploded near the US embassy in Baghdad on Sunday, as tensions mount ahead of the anniversary of the US killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.</p>.<p class="bodytext">AFP reporters in the Iraqi capital's east heard at least five booms, followed by whistling sounds.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A few moments later, they heard thunderous rapid-fire sounds and saw streams of red flares in the night sky, indicating the US embassy's C-RAM rocket defence system had been activated.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A security source told AFP at leat three rockets hit near the US diplomatic mission, while two others hit separate residential neighbourhoods.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The attack is the third on US military and diplomatic installations since a truce in October largely put an end to a year of rocket and roadside bomb attacks on foreign installations across Iraq.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The first, on November 17, saw a volley of rockets slam into the US embassy and various parts of the Iraqi capital, killing one young woman.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On December 10, two convoys transporting logistical equipment for the US-led coalition helping Iraqi troops fight jihadists were targeted with roadside bombs.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The attacks have been claimed by groups that both US and Iraqi officials have described as smokescreens for well-known Iran-aligned armed factions in Iraq.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Tensions have been high ahead of January 3 anniversary of the 2019 US drone strike in Baghdad that killed Soleimani and leading Iraqi paramilitary figure Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The US diplomatic mission has already partially withdrawn its staff due to security concerns, two senior Iraqi officials told AFP earlier this month.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They described the move as a "minor drawdown based on security reservations from the US side," and said it was not a rupture of diplomatic ties.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Iraqi and Western officials see a turbulent few weeks ahead of the White House handover from President Donald Trump, who has pursued a "maximum pressure" policy against Iran that has also squeezed its allies next door in Iraq.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They did not rule out last-minute military action by the Trump administration on Iranian interests in Iraq, or a possible escalation by Iran-backed groups around Baghdad.</p>