Explosions were heard near the US embassy in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone earlier today and sirens calling on people to “duck and cover” were activated, Reuters reports quoting social media videos from the scene verified by an informed source.

It was not immediately clear whether the embassy’s air defence systems were activated or whether there was damage.

US forces at military bases in Iraq and Syria have faced more than 70 attacks since mid-October.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for any attack on the US embassy on Friday, which took place about 4am.