Rocket explodes inside Baghdad’s Green Zone

BAGHDAD — A Katyusha rocket fell and exploded Sunday in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, which is home to the U.S. embassy, the Iraqi military said.

The rocket caused no casualties or damage, Iraq’s Joint Operations Command said, adding that details would be released later.

Earlier this week, the U.S. State Department ordered nonessential government staff at the U.S. embassy in Iraq to leave amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

On Saturday, the U.S.based energy company Exxon Mobil evacuated 50 U.S. employees from Iraq and flew them to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have spiked since Iranian President Hassan Rowhani announced last week that his country would begin partially withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. The U.S. announced its withdrawal from the deal last year.