On 20 December 2020, a total of eight rockets launched by unknown assailants targeted the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad’s Green Zone. The embassy’s C-RAM defense system intercepted the rockets in mid-air. U.S. officials confirmed that the attack resulted in minor damage to a residential building and multiple cars in the compound, while one Iraqi security guard was injured. There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack; however, Iran-linked militia groups have been blamed for similar rocket attacks in the past. Earlier in December, the U.S. withdrew some staff members from the embassy due to concerns of a possible retaliatory attack on U.S. interests in Baghdad ahead of the one-year anniversary of the U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassim Soleimani on 3 January 2020.