ROCKETS SLIGHTLY DAMAGE IRAQI PARLIAMENT BUILDING,

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001660 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2017 TAGS: IZ MCAP MOPS PINS SUBJECT: ROCKETS SLIGHTLY DAMAGE IRAQI PARLIAMENT BUILDING, NO INJURIES REPORTED Classified By: A/Pol-Mil Counselor A. "Hoot" Baez for reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) At approximately three this afternoon two rockets (believed to be 107 mm) struck the Iraqi Parliament Building located in the International Zone (IZ). The Council of Representatives was not in session and there were no injuries and only minor damage to the structure reported. Ground radar acquisition was not obtained and counter fire was not initiated. ¶2. (C) The Joint Area Support Group (JASG),the U.S. military unit responsible for IZ security reported that only one of the rounds detonated. The GOI declined JASG's offer to provide Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts, saying that they would dispose of the unexploded rocket themselves. ¶3. (C) Comment: While the GOI's refusal of JASG assistance to dispose of the unexploded rocket can be construed as a sign of increased Iraqi competence, JASG officers expressed concern that the Coalition would be blamed should an inadvertent detonation occur during Iraqi conducted disposal operations. End Comment. CROCKER