Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Protestors Storm U.S. Embassy In Bagdad


Iraqis attack US embassy in Baghdad: Soldiers under siege as Hezbollah-supporters storm complex
  • American soldiers inside the embassy have fired tear gas, stun grenades and warning shots at hundreds of fighters who broke down the compound gate and set fires within the complex on Tuesday
  • The ambassador was on leave at the time of the attack and embassy staff had already been evacuated before the US marine guard became besieged at the compound
  • Trump has vowed to hold Tehran accountable for the embassy attack, which is in retaliation for US air strikes on the Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah on Sunday night
  • Those USAF strikes were themselves in retaliation for last week's killing of an American contractor in Kirkuk
  • 'Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will.' Trump tweeted on Tuesday morning. 'Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!'
American soldiers inside the embassy have fired tear gas, stun grenades and warning shots, wounding 20 of the hundreds of fighters who broke down the gate and set fires within the complex in the Iraqi capital.
The ambassador was on leave at the time of the attack and embassy staff had already been evacuated before the US marine guard became besieged behind the bullet-proof glass and on the rooftops.
Trump has vowed to hold Tehran accountable for the embassy attack, which is in retaliation for US air strikes on the Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah on Sunday night. Those strikes a retaliation for last week's killing of an American contractor at a US base in Kirkuk.
Scroll down for video. 
Several thousand protesters have broken down the gate of the US embassy in Baghdad, storming the compound as gunshots and sirens ring out, after US air strikes on Hezbollah that killed 25 (pictured: setting fire to the walls and hurling rocks over the barricades)

 US soldiers fire tear gas onto protesters who broke into the compound as black smoke from fires set by the rioters billows into the air
US soldiers watch from behind a smoke screen as Iraqi protesters surround the US embassy building in the capital Baghdad. They fired warning shots, followed by stun grenades and tear gas

 Demonstrators react as tear gas is fired down by US soldiers on the rooftop of the compound after they stormed through the main gate
Demonstrators and members of the militia are seen in the entrance to the compound where visitors and vehicles are usually screened by security forces

 Thousands of Kataeb Hezbollah supporters left funerals held for 25 fighters killed by US strikes on Sunday night. They then marched towards the US embassy, pouring through the heavily fortified 'Green Zone' before reaching the gates of the compound. As the mood deteriorated security personnel headed into the building and carnage ensued outside, with rioters eventually tearing through the main gate and inside the main forecourt of the embassy.

 A security guards hut window has been badly damaged by the rioters as smoke spews from fires set around the compound today, with protesters waving flags of the militias part of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). Many are supported by Iran.

 Iraqi protesters set ablaze a sentry box in front of the US embassy building in the capital Baghdad to protest against the weekend's air strikes by US planes on several bases belonging to the Hezbollah brigades near Al-Qaim

 Demonstrators, including some wearing military fatigues, hurl rocks over the compound walls on Tuesday after they set fire to the barricade

 Iraqi protesters, including members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashed al-Shaabi), a mostly Shiite network of local armed groups trained and armed by powerful neighbor Iran, breach the outer wall of the diplomatic mission
Demonstrators wearing military fatigues and flying the white flag of the Popular Mobilization Forces, of which Kataeb Hezbollah is a member



Iraq Protestors Storm US Embassy In Baghdad


Thousands of Iraqi protestors attacked various parts of the US embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday after US airstrikes killed dozens of Iran-backed Iraqi militia over the weekend. The attack on the embassy has been widely documented on Twitter with videos and pictures showing the destruction.
One freelance journalist recorded the moment when the angry mob chanted, "No, no to America, no, no to Israel" outside of the embassy in Baghdad's Green Zone.


The Times of Israel's Mina Bai tweeted a video of what appears to be part of the embassy on fire.

More videos show protestors are burning the outer walls of the embassy.
It appears thousands of protestors are currently outside the embassy chanting anti-American slogans, throwing objects over the embassy wall, and burning things at the main gate.

Protestors are attempting to storm the main gate of the embassy.


Demonstrators took a video of the embassy's security forces behind bulletproof glass.


The US airstrike on Sunday on Hezbollah bases in Iraq and Syria were in response to attacks on US troops in the region.
ABC News said there had been no reports of any embassy staff hurt in the current rampage.
All security forces have been withdrawn to the inner areas of the embassy with US troops on top of the main embassy building with assault rifles pointed at protestors.
Reuters noted that the US ambassador and other staff members have been evacuated from the embassy. One official said few embassy protection staff remained as the risk of the compound being overrun was high.
Seven armored vehicles with 30 Iraqi troops arrived outside the embassy to assist US forces.
President Trump likely received a briefing on the developments of the embassy on Tuesday morning. He tweeted around 7 am est. saying "Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the embassy, and so notified!"  



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