US Embassy compound in Baghdad under siege as crowds protesting airstrikes break through gate
Iraqi protesters break down U.S. Embassy gate
US embassy gate broken down by Iraqi protesters.
Crowds of angry Iraqis protesting America’s recent airstrikes against an Iran-backed militia have laid siege to the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad Tuesday, chanting “Down, Down USA!” and storming through a main gate, prompting troops to fire back tear gas in response.
At least six U.S. soldiers were seen standing on the roof of the main building pointing their firearms at the demonstrators Tuesday afternoon as the chaotic scene is still unfolding in the Iraqi capital, where the sounds of gunfire could be heard.
Two Iraqi foreign ministry officials initially told Reuters the U.S. ambassador and staff were evacuated, but U.S. officials pushed back, telling Fox News that the embassy has not been evacuated. Further, an official said Ambassador Matthew H. Tueller was not evacuated but has been out of the country on a previously planned vacation.
“Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible,” President Trump tweeted. “In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!”
Protesters damage property inside the U.S. embassy compound, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Tuesday. (AP)
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Dozens of protesters, many of whom are reported to be wearing militia uniforms, are said to have come within 200 meters of the main building after busting through an entrance used by cars.
The embassy attack, one of the worst in recent memory, followed deadly U.S. airstrikes on Sunday that killed 25 fighters of the Iran-backed group, the Kataeb Hezbollah. The U.S. military said the airstrikes were in retaliation for last week's killing of an American contractor in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base that it had blamed on the militia.
Supporters of the militia held funerals Tuesday for the fighters killed, before setting their sights on the embassy.
Protesters smash a window inside the U.S. embassy compound in Baghdad on Tuesday. (AP)
The mob shouted “Down, Down USA!” as the crowd first tried to push inside the embassy grounds, hurling water and stones over its walls, the Associated Press reports. They raised yellow militia flags and taunted the embassy's security staff who remained behind the glass windows in the gates' reception area and also sprayed graffiti on the wall and windows. The graffiti, in red in support of the Kataeb Hezbollah, read: “Closed in the name of the resistance.”
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Following the breach of the gate, an Associated Press reporter at the scene saw flames rising from inside the compound. Smoke from tear gas that was fired rose in the area, and at least three of the protesters appeared to have difficulties breathing. A man on a loudspeaker also was heard urging the mob not to enter the compound, saying: “The message was delivered.”
No one was immediately reported hurt in the rampage and security staff had withdrawn to inside the embassy earlier, soon after protesters gathered outside.
Protesters burn property in front of the U.S. embassy compound. (AP)
As tempers rose, the mob also set fire to three trailers used by security guards along the embassy wall.
Yassine al-Yasseri, Iraq's interior minister, appeared outside the embassy at one point and walked around to inspect the scene. He told the AP that the prime minister had warned the U.S. strikes on the Shiite militiamen would have serious consequences.
"This is one of the implications," al-Yasseri said. "This is a problem and is embarrassing to the government."
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He said more security will be deployed to separate the protesters from the embassy, an indication the Iraqi troops would not move in to break up the crowd by force.
Seven armored vehicles with about 30 Iraqi soldiers arrived near the embassy hours after the violence erupted, deploying near the embassy walls but not close to the breached area. Four vehicles carrying riot police approached the embassy later but were forced back by the protesters who blocked their path.
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Sen. Marco Rubio took to Twitter early Tuesday and said Iran was directly responsible for orchestrating the breach. There was no immediate comment from the Pentagon and the State Department.
But U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said Sunday's strikes send the message that the U.S. will not tolerate actions by Iran that jeopardize American lives.
Fox News' Nicole Darrah and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
