The Iraqi government's security media cell said "five rockets targeted Baghdad International Airport and its surrounding area, injuring four airport employees and security personnel, and an engineer".

It added that rockets struck the airport and a water desalination plant, while others crashed near a prison where Islamic State group (IS) suspects are detained and an Iraqi airbase next to the US diplomatic facility.

Security forces seized the launchpad used for the attack in the al-Radwaniya area southwest of Baghdad, the authorities added.

Security sources told AFP that three drones were also downed near the airport.

Baghdad's airport includes a sprawling military complex that is divided into several bases belonging to the Iraqi army and security services, as well as a US diplomatic and logistics facility, and a central prison.

Since the start of the Middle East war, Iraq, long a proxy battleground between the US and Iran, has closed its airspace and suspended air traffic across the country.

Tehran-backed armed groups have been claiming daily drone and rocket attacks against US bases in Iraq, as well as Baghdad's airport.

Iraq's justice ministry warned earlier Sunday that attacks near the airport threatened the security of the al-Karkh central prison housing thousands of IS suspects recently brought from Syria.

The US embassy has also been targeted, with a drone striking the complex on Saturday. On the same day, three Iran-backed fighters were killed in strikes blamed on the US in the city.