Iraqi protesters march on US embassy, torch guardhouse to protest airstrikes

Posted By: Staff
December 31, 2019 @ 7:44 am
ABC World

CT757fan/iStock

CT757fan/iStock(BAGHDAD) — Hundreds of angry mourners have advanced on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad to protest the deadly U.S. airstrikes this week.

Photos from the scene show a compound sentry box had been set on fire by protesters, and footage shows the crowd waving yellow militia flags and chanting, with several cars parked outside in the street.

President Donald Trump responded to the protests on Twitter Tuesday, saying, “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!”

The attack on the embassy follows American airstrikes on an Iranian-backed militia operating in Iraq over the weekend. Strikes were conducted against five facilities in Iraq and Syria affiliated with Kata’ib Hizbollah (KH), which the Pentagon described as a group linked to Iran’s Quds Force responsible for recent attacks in Iraq, including a rocket attack which killed a U.S. civilian contractor at the K1 Iraqi military base near Kirkuk Friday.

In the aftermath of those strikes, a top Iraqi militia chief warned of a strong response against the U.S.

A State Department official downplayed the threat of retaliation from Iran or Iran-backed proxies Monday.