Protesters Gather at U.S. Embassy Baghdad Following American Airstrikes Against Iran-Backed Militia

As many as 25 people were killed in the airstrike.

Protest in Baghdad
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Image via Getty/Ameer Al Mohmmedaw/Picture Alliance

Protest in Baghdad

American airstrikes against an Iran-backed militia in Iraq spurred protests, with activists descending upon the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Per CNN, sources said they witnessed an attempted break-in at the location, with security officials reported as having fired tear gas "to repel the attack." Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) is said to have inspired the largest amount of protesters.

BREAKING - Hundreds of Kataib Hezbollah supporters are swarming the US embassy in Baghdad. No attempt to stop them by Iraqi forced guarding the Green Zone. No way out for diplomats. V. dangerous situation pic.twitter.com/sUgTI8iXHb

— Liz Sly (@LizSly) December 31, 2019

"We ask everyone to immediately leave these places, and we recall that any aggression or harassment of foreign embassies and representations are an act that will be strictly prohibited by the security forces and will be punished by law with the most severe penalties," Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahd said in a statement.

Footage of the protests in question show some participators setting fires and smashing windows:

PRESSTV EXCLUSIVE:

Video shows the moment that Iraqi protesters storm U.S. embassy in #Baghdad pic.twitter.com/gLOxV3WBNK

— Press TV (@PressTV) December 31, 2019

Trump, an idiot, claimed the airstrikes were a direct response to the recent death of a U.S. contractor. Furthermore, Trump blamed the strikes (and the contractor's killing) on Iran.

The attack on our embassy reminds us of all Trump's Middle East disasters:

1/ Emboldened Iran starts attacking U.S. targets;

2/ Turkey invades Syria;

3/ Saudi Arabia gets away with murder;

4/ Israeli/Palestinian peace slips out of reach.

And that's just the start...

— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) December 31, 2019

As many as 25 people were killed following the U.S. bombing of Kata'ib Hezbollah-affiliated bases in Iraq and Syria on Sunday.

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