BAGHDAD, IRAQ – FEBRUARY 05: U.S. Marine Cpl. Chilet Paul from Miami, Florida, walks past the American Embassy February 5, 2007 in Baghdad, Iraq . The platoon of Marines from the Anti-Terrorism Battalion is tasked with defending the exterior of U.S. diplomatic mission against attacks in one of the most dangerous cities in the world. The United States has used the former palace of Saddam Hussein as it’s embassy since shortly after the invasion in 2003. A new embassy is currently under construction. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) Several hundred protesters stormed the United States Embassy in Baghdad on Dec. 31 to protest U.S. airstrikes against Iran-backed Hezbollah members in Iraq known as Kataib Hezbollah.
The protesters threw rocks at the embassy, burned items outside and attempted to climb the walls. None of them breached the embassy.
President Donald Trump blamed Iran for the protests.
“Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many,” he tweeted. “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!”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted, “The attack today was orchestrated by terrorists – Abu Mahdi al Muhandis and Qays al-Khazali – and abetted by Iranian proxies – Hadi al Amari and Faleh al-Fayyad. All are pictured below outside our embassy.”
The attack today was orchestrated by terrorists – Abu Mahdi al Muhandis and Qays al-Khazali – and abetted by Iranian proxies – Hadi al Amari and Faleh al-Fayyad. All are pictured below outside our embassy. pic.twitter.com/2QfGGrfmDd
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) December 31, 2019
The U.S. airstrikes, which occurred on Dec. 29, hit five locations in Iraq and Syria, killing 25 Kataib Hezbollah members. The strikes were in response to a Dec. 27 rocket attack against an Iraqi military base in Kirkuk, which resulted in the killing of a U.S. civilian contractor.
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