By Amer al-Hassani</p> <p><br></p> <p>BAGHDAD (AA) – The U.S. embassy in Baghdad was targeted by artillery early Thursday, although no casualties were reported in relation to the incident, according to Iraqi police sources.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Shortly after midnight, two artillery shells crashed to earth near the embassy, which is located in Baghdad’s heavily-fortified Green Zone, Police Lieutenant Jamal al-Hassouni told Anadolu Agency. </p> <p><br></p> <p>No casualties or damage were reported as a result of the limited barrage, which prompted the authorities to briefly sound air-raid sirens.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Police have since launched an investigation into the incident, for which no group has claimed responsibility.</p> <p><br></p> <p>The attack came only hours after a surprise Christmas visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to the Ain al-Assad military airbase in Iraq's western Anbar province.<br> </p> <p><br>
Trump reportedly spent three and a half hours at the airbase, but did not visit Baghdad.
A scheduled meeting between the U.S. president and Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi was cancelled, but the two leaders later reportedly spoke by phone.
