International

Reports: Rockets launched at US Embassy in Baghdad

Published

3 years ago

November 17, 2020

Staff Writer

BREAKING

There are reports that at least four Katyusha rockets have been launched at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq on Tuesday afternoon.

An Iraq correspondent for the Associated Press, Samya Kullab, tweeted the news, saying that this act signals “an end to informal truce announced by Iran-backed militia in October.”

Kullab also stated that four rockets were launched instead of two and that they were intercepted by the C-RAM missile defense system, with one of the rockets landing 600 meters from the embassy. Additionally, according to Kullab, two Iraqi security forces were wounded, officials have told the AP.

#IRAQ #BREAKING: Rockets hit #Baghdad Green Zone signalling an end to informal truce announced by Iran-backed militia in October.

Four rockets launched. Intercepted by C-RAM system. Of them, one lands 600m from U.S. embassy. Two Iraqi security forces wounded, officials tell @AP
— Samya Kullab | سامية كُلاّب (@samya_kullab) November 17, 2020

This comes just a day after it was announced that the U.S. would be reducing its troops stationed in Afghanistan by roughly half.

This story is currently developing.

You can follow Douglas Braff on Twitter @Douglas_P_Braff.

Related Topics:attack baghdad Iraq rockets U.S. Embassy

International

Mental health crisis spikes among Afghan women after Taliban regained control two years ago

Published

1 day ago

September 21, 2023

Sara Carter Staff

The women of Afghanistan are suffering a mental health crisis since the Taliban regained power two years ago. According to a joint report from three U.N. agencies released Tuesday, approximately 70% of women experience feelings of anxiety, isolation and depression.

The numbers continue to rise, as there has already been a significant jump between April and June of this year alone, with an increase from 57% the preceding quarter.

The report, conducted by U.N. Women, the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, interviewed women online, in-person and in group consultations as well as individual telesurveys.

592 Afghan women in 22 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces took part in the study. The Associated Press reports:

They have barred women from most areas of public life and work and banned girls from going to school beyond the sixth grade. They have prohibited Afghan women from working at local and non-governmental organizations. The ban was extended to employees of the United Nations in April.

Opportunities to study continued to shrink as community-based education by international organizations was banned and home-based schooling initiatives were regularly shut down by the de facto authorities — a term use by the U.N. for the Taliban government.

Afghanistan is the only country in the world with restrictions on female education and the rights of Afghan women and children are on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The report also served as a vessel for Afghan women to send a message to the rest of the world: do not validate the Taliban government. Forty-six percent of women said international recognition of the Taliban government should not happen under any circumstances, while 50% warned that recognition should only occur under specific conditions contingent on improving women’s rights.

The report notes that the women expressed concern that recognition would only encourage the Taliban government to continue becoming stricter in their policies and practices against women and girls.

Afghan women had specific ideas and suggestions: they “urged the international community to continue political and economic sanctions against the Taliban, including by not granting exemptions to a travel ban. They urged an increase in engagement with the Taliban on gender equality and women’s rights, including by engaging community and religious leaders in awareness and advocacy efforts” writes the Associated Press.