AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images
Several thousand Iraqi protesters attacked the US embassy in Baghdad on today, breaching its outer wall and chanting "Death to America!" in anger over weekend air strikes that killed pro-Iran fighters.
- Protesters have stormed the US embassy in Baghdad, setting fire to a reception area.
- The demonstrations were sparked by US attacks on a militia in Iraq and Syria Sunday, in which 25 were killed.
- President Trump in a tweet accused Iran of being behind the attack on the embassy, and said the US had launched the strikes in retaliation for an attack in which a US contractor was killed.
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Supporters of Shia militias in Iraq have stormed the US embassy in Baghdad, setting fire to a guard tower and reception area, according to reports.
An Associated Press reporter at the scene reported seeing flames rise from inside the compound, and at least three US soldiers on its roof.
AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images
An Iraqi protester holds up a sign that he took off from outside the US embassy in Baghdad after breaching the outer wall of the diplomatic mission during an angry demonstration on December 31, 2019 to denounce weekend US air strikes that killed Iran-backed fighters in Iraq.
A man on a loudspeaker urged protesters not to try to enter the embassy, according to the report, telling them they had sent their message with the damage they had inflicted.
The protesters broke down a gate to to embassy and stopped about 200 metres from the main embassy building, where US soldiers on the roof could be seen pointing their rifles at the protesters, according to the Associated Press (AP).
A video from Iran's state broadcaster, Press TV, showed an aerial view of the attack:
In a tweet US President Donald Trump accused Iran of being behind the attack.
He said that Iran was "orchestrating" the assault and called on Iraq to use its military to help defend the compound. He said that Iran "will be held fully responsible," but did not elaborate on what he might do as a result.
Earlier, huge crowds gathered outside the compound to protest against US airstrikes in Iraq and Syria on Sunday against the Iranian-backed militia Ka'taib Hesbollah, which has fought closely with the Iraqi military in the battle against Isis.
25 people were killed in the attacks, which the US said were made in retaliation for a rocket attack on a base in Iraq in which a US contractor was killed which the US has blamed on the militia.
Before storming the compound, protesters chanted "down USA, down USA," and wrote "resistance" in red letters on the walls of the embassy, according to reports.
PRESSTV EXCLUSIVE:
Video shows the moment that Iraqi protesters storm U.S. embassy in #Baghdad pic.twitter.com/gLOxV3WBNK
- Press TV (@PressTV) December 31, 2019Iran 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!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019