Baghdad, March 27 (RHC)-- At least one rocket was fired in the vicinity of the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, where the American Embassy is located, according to local reports.  Military aircraft were spotted hovering in the area shortly after.

The explosion rocked the Iraqi capital early on Friday morning local time, according to Al-Arabiya, with some reports stating a “massive” number of armed American helicopters were spotted circling over the area afterward.

The incident comes just one day after another rocket shelling targeting the Green Zone triggered an evacuation of American personnel from the U.S. Embassy, with two projectiles landing near the Baghdad Operations Command, which coordinates the country’s security forces.

The rapidly growing coronavirus pandemic has prompted an exodus of foreign troops stationed in Iraq as part of the U.S.-led coalition, with the UK announcing last week that only “key military personnel” would remain in the country. 

The UK was followed by France, which removed 100 soldiers on Wednesday.  While the U.S. has yet to withdraw any of its troops, the virus has prompted a “repositioning” of American forces, who were consolidated in safer areas.