BAGHDAD: A barrage of around two dozen mortars were fired Tuesday into the Green Zone, the heavily fortified Baghdad district where Iraqi government buildings and the U.S. Embassy are located.

The sound of at least 23 mortars was heard in central Baghdad in the afternoon, and smoke could be seen rising from the Green Zone.

There was no immediate word on casualties or damage. U.S. military helicopters were seen moments later from the Green Zone looking for the firing positions.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki warned gunmen a week ago to stop firing rockets and mortar rounds into the Green Zone. Many of the mortar attacks come from the Mahdi Army, a militia loyal to anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who was once al-Maliki’s ally, though Sunni insurgents have also carried out mortar attacks.

The Associated Press