The difference between the Red Zone and the Green Zone in Iraq   How large is the Green Zone area in Iraq controlled by the United States

Iraq’s “Green Zone” is the most commonly used name for the International Zone of Baghdad, a 10-square-kilometer (3.9-square-mile) area in the Karkh district in central Baghdad. It is a high-security zone established by the coalition forces near the Republican Palace in Baghdad after the outbreak of the Iraq War.

The Iraqi side refers to it as the International Zone, but the Green Zone remains the most commonly used term.The red zone in question refers to the outskirts of Baghdad or, broadly, all unsecured areas outside designated military zones.The terms Green Zone and Red Zone are both military terms.

The U.S. Embassy in Iraq was inaugurated in January 2009 within the Green Zone, covering an entire compound of 104 acres (42 hectares).It includes 21 buildings, making it the largest U.S. embassy overseas.

On September 7, 2018, the U.S. Embassy was attacked by multiple mortar shells but was not hit, and the embassy area had already sounded alarms.

No organization has claimed responsibility for this attack, and Iraqi security forces are investigating the origin of the shells.According to military statements and police accounts, the shells were fired from Karrada Street in eastern Baghdad and landed in the Karrada district on the other side of the Tigris River, less than 1 kilometer from the secure zone.

During the construction period, the U.S. government kept many aspects of the related plans confidential, with most details only recorded in the report of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.In addition to 1,000 regular employees, another 3,000 people were hired, including security personnel.After construction began in mid-2005, the originally expected completion date was September 2007.

“After submitting the 2006 annual budget to Congress, the president also sent a request for emergency supplemental appropriations for 2005, which included an additional $1.3 billion for the Baghdad embassy...”An emergency supplemental appropriation (H.R.1268/P.L.109-13, which included $592 million for embassy construction) was passed on May 11, 2005.

According to the U.S. Department of State, these funds are entirely needed for the construction of the new embassy site.

The Obama administration also requested an additional $100 million in 2012 for “extensive” renovations of the embassy.After 2006, the embassy project was mainly overseen by the Kuwaiti contractor “FirstKuwaitiTrading&Contracting.”

The reinforcement and security level of the buildings inside the museum are very strict, all exceeding the building standards within the Green Zone.Although most detailed data remains classified, it is clear that a Marine Corps Embassy Security Group detachment is present.The defensive structures include a comprehensive security perimeter, building protection measures above standard levels, and five heavily guarded entrances.

On October 5, 2007, the Associated Press reported that the September completion target might be missed, and it would not be until 2008 that buildings would be ready for use.In May 2008, the U.S. diplomatic mission in Iraq began moving into the new compound.