#Breaking: Just in – Reports that #Hezbollah supporters are burning the back wall outside the #US embassy in #Baghdad's green zone in #Iraq, and are willing to storm inside the building to destroy everything inside. pic.twitter.com/LbFpURqTjX
— Sotiri Dimpinoudis (@sotiridi) December 31, 2019
#Breaking: Video of the #Hezbollah supporters now sitting just outside the #US embassy building in #Baghdad's green zone in #Iraq, after they smashed their way inside the compound perimeter. pic.twitter.com/0aSw5avrEN
— Sotiri Dimpinoudis (@sotiridi) December 31, 2019
#Update: Just in – Video of the sounds of explosions of the stun grenades being thrown by #US soldiers of the roof, towards #Hezbollah protestors inside the US embassy compound in #Baghdad #Iraq. pic.twitter.com/kLeL88Lkec
— Sotiri Dimpinoudis (@sotiridi) December 31, 2019
The “Iraqi protesters” besieging the US Embassy in Baghdad are Iranian-backed Shiite militia belonging to Hezbollah and other paramilitary orgs that are trying to give the impression that they’re just civilian protesters.
They’re an astroturfed “Popular Mobilization Force.” pic.twitter.com/8r9zE8i4Xz
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) December 31, 2019
#Update: Video of more #Hezbollah supporters fainting down due to the inhalation of tear gas being shot by Iraqi security officers, at the #US embassy building in #Baghdad in #Iraq. pic.twitter.com/lRJNLPkIjO
— Sotiri Dimpinoudis (@sotiridi) December 31, 2019
#IRGC backed terrorists of Kataib Hezbollah (#Iraq #PMU's 45th Brigade) are now trying to enter the main building of #US Embassy in #Baghdad's #GreenZone. If they enter that building, #US Private Contractors responsible for its protection will shoot & kill them. pic.twitter.com/F3wPBmQIBp
— Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee) December 31, 2019
“Qassim Sulaimani is my leader” militia members wrote on the wall of the U.S embassy in #Baghdad #Iraq , Cleary Iran is orchestrating the attack right now pic.twitter.com/x0vGOrDiPM
— Steven nabil (@thestevennabil) December 31, 2019
President Trump has called out Iran and is calling on Iraqi security to respond.
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019
Reports are that the Ambassador and his staff were already evacuated from the compound but there are multiple U.S. military still there.
BREAKING VIDEO: Video shows U.S. embassy military guards remain at U.S. Embassy in Baghdad as attack on embassy is underway pic.twitter.com/b0irLIHKJ4
— LIVE Breaking News (@NewsBreaking) December 31, 2019
U.S. officials tell Reuters that the United States is expected to send additional Marines to the embassy in Baghdad following violent demonstration outside it. The officials stress it will be small number.
— Idrees Ali (@idreesali114) December 31, 2019
Update:
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said additional forces were responding to protect the people on site.
“We have taken appropriate force protection actions to ensure the safety of American citizens, military personnel and diplomats in country, and to ensure our right of self-defense,” Esper said in a statement.
“As in all countries, we rely on host nation forces to assist in the protection of our personnel in country, and we call on the Government of Iraq to fulfill its international responsibilities to do so,” he added.