Security officials said rockets launched from an area close to the airport [File: Thaier al-Sudani/Reuters]

Baghdad, May 3 (RHC)-- Two rockets have targeted a base at Iraq’s Baghdad airport housing US-led coalition troops in the second such attack in 10 days.  One of the projectiles was intercepted by the C-RAM counter rocket, artillery and mortar system deployed to protect American forces in Iraq, a security source told AFP news agency.  There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

Last week, three rokets crashed into the sector of the Baghdad airport base occupied by Iraqi troops, wounding one soldier.  According to reports, nearly 30 rocket or bomb attacks have targeted U.S. interests in Iraq -- including troops, the embassy or Iraqi supply convoys to foreign forces -- since U.S. President Joe Biden took office in January.

Two foreign contractors, one Iraqi contractor, and eight Iraqi civilians have been killed in past raids.
The operations are sometimes claimed by obscure groups experts say are smokescreens for Iran-backed organisations long present in Iraq.

The attacks come at a sensitive time as Iran is engaged in talks with world powers aimed at bringing the U.S. back into a 2015 nuclear deal.  Baghdad last month reportedly hosted a secret meeting of senior officials from Tehran and US ally Saudi Arabia.   Iraq, wedged between its eastern neighbour Iran and Saudi Arabia to the south, has been working to become a mediator.