Protesters stormed the United States embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday in response to airstrikes carried out by the U.S. earlier this week, according to reports.
The New York Times reports that protesters broke into part of the embassy and lit fires inside it. The protests seem to have been sparked by the United States carrying out airstrikes in Iraq and Syria on Sunday that killed members of an Iran-backed militia. The United States says the militia was responsible for the death of an American contractor, according to CBS News.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday weighed in on the situation, claiming that Iran was “orchestrating” the protests at the embassy.
“Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many,” the president tweeted early Tuesday. “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!”
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
The protests prompted officials at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad to evacuate, Reuters reports. The protesters did not reach the main compound of the embassy, according to the report, but did shout “No, no, America! No, no, Trump!”
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