Unic Press UK: The demonstrators who besieged/attacked the United States Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, on Tuesday, smashing windows/doors, throwing objects into the premises, and chanting “Death to America”, “Down, down USA”, dispersed Wednesday after staying a night outside the Embassy.
Security at the Embassy has been reinforced with additional American troops. And on Wednesday, the U.S. Marines at the Embassy fired tear gas canisters’ at the protesters. However, all consulate operations remain suspended. U.S. citizens are strongly advised to avoid the area.
In a statement, the U.S. Embassy in Iraq said:
“Due to militia attacks at the U.S. Embassy compound, all public consular operations are suspended until further notice. All future appointments are canceled. U.S. citizens are advised to not approach the embassy.”
Hundreds of protesters had entered the Green Zone in Baghdad on Tuesday, insisting that the U.S. Embassy should close operations and leave Iraq. The demonstrators accused the U.S. government of killing twenty-five people during airstrikes targeting a militia Kitaib Hizballah that’s allegedly trained/armed by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The U.S. airstrikes were a retaliation over an attack at a U.S. base near Kirkuk that killed a U.S. contractor and injured several U.S. and Iraqi soldiers on 27 Dec.
Reacting yesterday, the U.S. President Donald Trump accused the Islamic Republic of Iran of causing troubles. He tweeted: “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!”
Iran denies responsibility. The U.S. is “playing a flagrant and unsavory blame game”, said Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi.
