Explosion heard near US embassy in Baghdad's Green Zone

CAIRO - 27 December 2018: The US embassy in Baghdad announced a state of alert after an explosion was heard in Baghdad’s Green Zone on Thursday.

The explosion came after US President Donald Trump paid a visit to Iraq on Wednesday to meet with the US troops in a military base near Baghdad.

His visit was denounced by many lawmakers and politicians for “violating Iraq’s sovereignty” by traveling to the country without meeting with Baghdad leaders.

Last September, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as he explained the move, renewed a warning that the United States would hold Iran directly responsible for any attacks on Americans and U.S. diplomatic facilities.

“I have made clear that Iran should understand that the United States will respond promptly and appropriately to any such attacks,” Pompeo said in a statement.