United Press International

BAGHDAD, April 16 (UPI) -- The U.S. military plans to create a buffer zone in the southern part of Sadr City to prevent militants launching rockets into the Green Zone in Baghdad.

CNN reported that the buffer zone is one part of a three-pronged strategy to cut down on the firing of 107-mm rockets into the area that houses U.S. and Iraqi government offices and foreign embassies. In the past three months, about 600 rockets have been fired into or towards the Green Zone, also known as the International Zone.

The rockets are being fired by Shiite militias and come from Iran.

The military plans to wall off the six to eight blocks in Sadr City that have been used as a launch zone, an official told CNN.

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