Katyusha rockets fired at the Basra airport in Iraq after a violent night of demonstrations, a senior official said

BASRA, Iraq – Unknown attackers fired three Katyusha missiles at the Iraqi airport in Basra on Saturday, an airport official said after a chaotic and violent night that saw hundreds of protesters burning tires on Iranian roads and highways. The demonstrations in Basra are the most serious to shake the heart of the oil-rich southern Shiite country in Iraq for years.

Protesters call for an end to endemic corruption, growing unemployment and poor public services. They raged on neighboring Iran, accusing its disproportionate influence in Iraqi political affairs of their misery.

The official said that it was not clear who was behind Saturday morning's attack on the Basra airport, which is also home to the US consulate. He stated that the attack took place around 8 am local time, and had not caused casualties or disrupted flights to or from the city. The manager requested anonymity, citing security concerns. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

A few hours earlier, protesters launched anti-Iranian slogans, including "Iran, Out!" stormed the Iranian consulate and set fire to the interior. They also burned an Iranian flag and stomped on a portrait of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Bahram Ghasemi, condemned the attack, which he said caused extensive damage to the building. He called for maximum punishment for the attackers. Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Iraq's top Shia official, blamed political leaders for the unrest and called for a new government "unlike its predecessors," BBC News reported.

Although the US government has disputes with Iran, the State Department criticized the attack, without explicitly mentioning Iran.

"The United States condemns the violence against diplomats, including those that took place today in Basra," the statement said.

Anger intensified in the city due to lack of jobs, clean water and electricity, according to the BBC. Hundreds of people were taken to the hospital after drinking contaminated water.

Local residents say the government is corrupt and has allowed infrastructure to collapse virtually in the region that generates much of Iraq's oil wealth.

Elsewhere in the city, protesters attempted to attack Iran-backed Shia militia headquarters Assaib Ahl Al-Haq, and guards stationed there opened fire. Angry protesters marched to the city's presidential palace, where Shiite paramilitary troops are stationed, and attempted to rape it. At least three cars driven by troops attacked protesters, killing one and injuring four others, according to a health official who requested anonymity because he was not allowed to speak to the media.

Other demonstrators set main streets and highways on fire, ignoring a curfew imposed by the authorities.

More than 10 protesters have died in clashes with security forces since Monday, three of whom were shot dead by security forces on Thursday night as protesters threw Molotov cocktails and set fire to a government building and Shiite militia offices in the city.

On Thursday, protesters forced the closure of the main Iraqi seaport south of Basra, the BBC reported.

Many residents of the predominantly Shiite city accuse Iran-backed political parties of ingratiating themselves with Iraqi politics, and some see them as responsible for the city's mismanagement and poor services.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has ordered an investigation into the violence, which shows no signs of slowing down.

The unrest in the south of the country comes in the context of a political crisis in Baghdad, exacerbating the general tensions in the country.

The new parliament elected earlier this week held its first session since the May national elections, but the meeting was adjourned due to disagreements, with both blocks claiming the most seats.