3 Iraqis wounded in rocket attack on housing sites of foreign oil firms in Basra
Representational photo.
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Three Iraqi workers were injured Wednesday in a rocket attack on a complex housing several global major oil companies, including US giant ExxonMobil, in the southern city of Basra.
A security source said that the short-range Katyusha missile targeted the Burjesia residential and operations headquarters west of the city, where foreign workers are housed.
He added that US giant ExxonMobil is one of the companies operating on the attacked site.
The incident follows attacks on commercial tankers in the Persian Gulf that the US has claimed were carried out by Iran. The government in Tehran denies responsibility.
The United States evacuated hundreds of diplomatic staff from its Baghdad embassy last month, citing unspecified threats from Iran against US interests in neighbouring Iraq, where Tehran supports some Shi’ite militias.
Wednesday’s incident came just as Exxon staff who were also evacuated after the diplomats’ departure had begun to return to Basra.
A security source said Exxon was again preparing to evacuate about 20 foreign staff immediately.