Protesters Attack U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, after U.S. Strikes against Iraqi Militia

Dec. 31, 2019 (EIRNS)—This morning in Baghdad, following a funeral procession there for the 25 Kataeb Hezbollah militiamen who were killed in the Dec. 29 U.S. airstrikes, protesters turned to the U.S. Embassy, where they breached the walls, got inside the compound and set fire to a reception area, with Iraqi security forces mainly looking on. President Donald Trump tweeted this morning, after first word of the attack, “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!”

Later, Trump tweeted an update that security was restored. “The U.S. Embassy in Iraq is, & has been for hours, SAFE! many of our great Warfighters, together with the most lethal military equipment in the world, was immediately rushed to the site. Thank you to the President & Prime Minister of Iraq for their rapid response upon request. Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a warning, it is a Threat. Happy new Year!”

News reports later in the day indicated that 100 Marines, already in the theater, had been dispatched to Baghdad to beef up security at the embassy. In the midst of the attack, Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi had demanded that the protesters leave the compound “immediately.” He stated, “We recall that any aggression or harassment of foreign embassies will be firmly prohibited by the security forces,” according to news reports.

The immediate background is that on Dec. 29 the U.S. conducted five strikes against bases of the Kataeb Hezbollah militia. The U.S. strikes were in retaliation for a rocket attack on a base in Kirkuk housing U.S. troops, which killed an American contractor, wounded four U.S. troops and destroyed an ammunition facility.

The funeral march and the attack on the U.S. Embassy were openly led by the top officials of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMUs), also known as the Hashd al Shaabi, the Shi’ite militias which includes Kataeb Hezbollah. These included PMU chief Hadi al-Amiri and National Security Adviser Falih al-Fayaddh. Another one was Qais al-Khazali, leader of the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia. Khazali told Reuters, “Americans are unwanted in Iraq. They are a source of evil and we want them to leave.” Khazali, Reuters says, is one of the most feared and respected Shi’ite militia leaders in Iraq, and one of Iran’s most important allies.

Iraq Interior Minister Yassine al-Yasseri also appeared outside the embassy at one point and walked around to inspect the scene. He told Associated Press that Prime Minister Abdul Mahdi had warned that the U.S. strikes on the Shi’ite militiamen would have serious consequences. “This is one of the implications,” al-Yasseri said. “This is a problem and is embarrassing to the government.”