US Embassy Evacuated After Iran-Backed Group Breaches Compound

The U.S. ambassador to Iraq and other staff were evacuated from the U.S. embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday, Iraqi officials said, as thousands of protesters and members of the Iran-backed Hashed al-Shaabi group thronged the gates in fury at U.S. airstrikes in Iraq.

U.S. planes on Sunday attacked bases belonging to an Iranian-backed terror group, killing at least 25 and wounding dozens of others. The attack on the Kataib Hezbollah terrorist group was in response to the killing of a U.S. civilian contractor in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base.

Kataib Hezbollah flags were seen among the protesters at the U.S. embassy. Some threw stones, others burned the outside wall surrounding the embassy, and chants of “No, no, America! … No, no, Trump!” were heard. After breaching the outer wall, they smashed the bullet-proof glass of the U.S. embassy’s windows with blocks and cement.

One protester dressed in military fatigues said “we will not spare a single employee” if they breached the building.

Two Iraqi foreign ministry officials did not say when the U.S. ambassador or other staff had left but added that a few embassy protection staff remained.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday morning that the United States carried out the military attacks because Iran killed an American contractor and wounded others.

“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!” he said in a statement.

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

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said that it was clear the Shia militias in Iraq weren’t just “backed” by Iran, “they are directed and controlled by them.”

“Any attacks by them are the direct work of Iran’s IRGC,” he added, referring to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

It’s beyond dispute that these Shia militias in #Iraq aren’t just “backed” by #Iran, they are directed & controlled by them. Any attacks by them are the direct work of Iran’s #IRGC

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) December 31, 2019

Iraqi security forces stand guard in front of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq on Dec. 31, 2019. (Khalid Mohammed/AP Photo) U.S. soldiers fire tear gas towards protesters who broke into the U.S. embassy compound, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 31, 2019. (Khalid Mohammed/AP Photo) Destroyed headquarters of Kataib Hezbollah militia group are seen after in an air strike in Qaim, Iraq, on Dec. 30, 2019. (Stringer/Reuters)

“And the govt of Iraq, (which has enjoyed billions of dollars in US aid & the help & protection of our military) needs to remember they have an obligation to protect all diplomatic facilities,” Rubio wrote on Twitter. “Iran is directly responsible for orchestrating the storming of the US Embassy in Iraq & must be held accountable for it & the safety of every American serving there,” he also wrote in a statement.

A few hours into the protest, tear gas was fired in an attempt to disperse the crowd and some of the militias encouraged protesters through loudspeakers to leave.

“We have delivered our message, please leave the area to avoid bloodshed,” said one announcement.

Qais al-Khazali, leader of the Iranian-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq group, and many other senior leaders were among the protesters.

“Americans are unwanted in Iraq . They are a source of evil and we want them to leave,” Khazali said. Khazali is one of the most respected Shi’ite militia leaders in Iraq , and one of Iran’s most important allies.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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