AMMAN, Jordan _ Thousands of protesters aligned with an Iraqi paramilitary group stormed the compound of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday, surrounding some of its buildings and setting fire to one of its gates.
"We are sending additional forces to support our personnel at the embassy," U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced Tuesday.
President Donald Trump made a brief stop at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Fla., in the morning, leaving after less than an hour. His departure came at roughly the same time the Pentagon announced it would deploy more forces to the embassy in Baghdad.
The State Department said it did not plan to evacuate the embassy, describing U.S. personnel there as "secure." The State Department also said Matt Tueller, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, was returning to the embassy after "previously scheduled personal travel."
The spasm of rage comes two days after U.S. warplanes struck positions of Kataeb Hezbollah, a top paramilitary faction that is backed by Iran. The strikes killed some 25 people and wounded 51 others, Iraqi officials said, and followed a rocket strike last week that killed a U.S. military contractor and which the U.S. blamed on Kataeb Hezbollah.
Sirens blared through Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone as an enraged mob bristling with the green-and-yellow flag of Kataeb Hezbollah and other factions of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units, a volunteer force of Shiite-dominated armed groups, pelted the embassy with rocks and water bottles.
Others marched, shouted "God is great, and America is the Great Satan," scaled walls and surrounded a reception area with armed U.S. soldiers standing inside. One protester sprayed "Closed by order of the people" on the wall of the embassy's compound, another held up a sign threatening the "American enemy."
Crowds began forming after funerals earlier Tuesday for those killed in last week's strikes, making their way to the Green Zone and passing several checkpoints on their way to the embassy. It was unclear how they had breached the high-security area, which is home to a number of embassies, international nongovernmental organizations and Iraqi ministries. (Anti-government protesters demonstrating in recent weeks had been unable to enter.)
As the mob turned violent, Iraq's caretaker prime minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, issued a statement demanding protesters leave the embassy grounds, and troops were deployed to try to push back the protesters.
"We remind that any attack or harassment of embassies and diplomatic missions is an act that will be strictly prevented by security forces and will be severely punished by the law," the statement said.
But Abdel Mahdi's warning had little effect, despite security forces attempting to disperse the protesters with tear gas and stun grenades. Hours later, crowds near the embassy appeared to be growing, while top Iraqi politicians affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Units joined in the fray, including the government's national security adviser; Qais Khazali, leader of the Asaeb Ahl al-Haq faction; Jamal Ibrahimi; deputy of the militias' grouping; and Hadi Ameri, head of the Badr organization. All are seen as important allies of Tehran in the country.
"This protest was to deliver a message that this embassy should be closed and that the presence of U.S. forces in Iraq is illegitimate," said Kataeb Hezbollah spokesman Mohammad Muhi in a phone interview Tuesday. He added that the U.S. strikes were "a crime" that "violated Iraqi sovereignty, insulted Iraqi dignity and made light of Iraqis' blood."
There are roughly 5,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and an unknown number of contractors involved in anti-Islamic State operations as well as in training and assisting missions with Iraqi security forces. Their presence has long been a target for Iraqi politicians aligned with Tehran.
Trump condemned the unrest near the embassy while blaming it on Iran.
"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," he tweeted.
"They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!"
Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo worked the phones Tuesday, speaking with Iraq's prime minister and president.
According to a State Department spokeswoman, Pompeo "made clear the United States will protect and defend its people," and the Iraqi leaders said they "took seriously their responsibility" to ensure the safety of the U.S. Embassy.
The previous day, Pompeo spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu _ all avowed opponents of Iran.
It's likely that the violence will increase tensions between Washington and Tehran, one of the few consistent elements of Trump's foreign policy.
Tuesday's unrest comes amid weeks of anti-government demonstrations that saw Iraqis across the country call for the ouster of Iraq's ruling class and an end to interference in the country's affairs by the U.S. and Iran. (Since 2003, Tehran and Washington have tussled for influence in Iraq.)
The Popular Mobilization Units, which include Kataeb Hezbollah, are seen as a part of Iran's influence, even though they have been reluctant partners of the U.S. in the fight against Islamic State. They were formed as a Shiite-dominated volunteer auxiliary force in 2014 to counter Islamic State's scythe-like takeover of a full third of the country, but have since been integrated into Iraq's armed forces and have become a powerful political party.
