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Reuters

Politics

Ahmed Rasheed

Trump blames Iran as protests erupt outside U.S. embassy in Iraq

Protesters and militia fighters set fire to a reception room of the U.S. Embassy, during a protest to condemn air strikes on bases belonging to Hashd al-Shaabi (paramilitary forces), in Baghdad, Iraq December 31, 2019. REUTERS/Wissm al-Okili

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Militiamen and their supporters protesting against deadly U.S. air strikes on Iraq hurled stones and torched a security post at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday in an unprecedented attack on an American diplomatic mission in the country.

Embassy guards responded with stun grenades and tear gas after the attackers stormed and burned the security post at the entrance but did not breach the main compound.

The incident marked a sharp escalation of the proxy conflict between Washington and Tehran - both influential players in Iraq - while mass protests are challenging Iraq's own political system nearly 17 years after the U.S. invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

It comes after months of security incidents in the region for which both sides have traded blame.

U.S. President Donald Trump accused Iran of orchestrating the violence and said it would be held responsible. Iran rejected the accusation.

A wounded member of Hashd al-Shaabi (paramilitary forces) gets help during a protest to condemn air strikes on their bases, outside the main gate of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq December 31, 2019. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily

More U.S. troops were being sent to the embassy, U.S. officials said.

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has been hit by sporadic but non-lethal rocket fire in recent months, and was regularly shelled following the U.S.-led invasion of 2003, but has not been physically attacked by demonstrators in this way before.

The protests were led by Iranian-backed militias and lasted several hours, but the U.S. State Department said later that personnel were secure and the facility had not been breached.

U.S. soldiers take their position on the roof of the U.S. Embassy during a protest to condemn air strikes on bases belonging to Hashd al-Shaabi (paramilitary forces), in Baghdad, Iraq December 31, 2019. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily

A State Department spokesperson said reports from Iraqi officials that the ambassador had been evacuated were false. The envoy, Matt Tueller, had been on previously scheduled personal travel and was returning to the embassy, the official said. There were no plans for an evacuation.

U.S. air strikes on Sunday on Iranian-backed militia bases killed at least 25 fighters and wounded 55.

Those raids, on the Kataib Hezbollah militia, were in response to the killing of a U.S. civilian contractor in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base.

Protesters and militia fighters gather to condemn air strikes on bases belonging to Hashd al-Shaabi (paramilitary forces), outside the main gate of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq December 31, 2019. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily

'NO AMERICA'

"Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will," Trump said in a tweet. "Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible."

"America has the surprising audacity of attributing to Iran the protests of the Iraqi people against (Washington's) savage killing of at least 25 Iraqis," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.

The protesters, who were joined briefly by Iranian-backed Shi'ite Muslim militia leaders, threw stones at the gate while others chanted, "No, no, America! No, no, Trump!"

Iraqi special forces were deployed around the main gate to prevent protesters entering. U.S.-trained Iraqi Counter Terrorism forces later reinforced them.

SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB A wounded member of Hashd al-Shaabi (paramilitary forces) gets help during a protest to condemn air strikes on their bases, outside the main gate of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq December 31, 2019. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily

The Popular Mobilisation Forces, an umbrella grouping of the militias which have been officially integrated into Iraq's armed forces, said 62 militiamen and civilians were wounded by the tear gas and stun grenades fired to disperse the crowd.

Trump spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi and emphasized the need to protect U.S. personnel and facilities, the White House said.

Iraqi President Barham Salih denounced the attempts to breach the embassy and said security forces would take their duties to protect foreign missions seriously.

Protesters and militia fighters set on fire a security building of the U.S. Embassy, as people gather to condemn air strikes on bases belonging to Hashd al-Shaabi (paramilitary forces), in Baghdad, Iraq December 31, 2019. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily

The Washington Post reported that U.S. diplomats and staffers were huddled in a fortified safe room in the embassy, according to two reached by a messaging app.

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," one announcement said.

Protesters and militia fighters attack a reception room of the U.S. Embassy, during a protest to condemn air strikes on bases belonging to Hashd al-Shaabi (paramilitary forces), in Baghdad, Iraq December 31, 2019. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily

Senior Iraqi army officers were also negotiating with the crowd, trying to convince them to leave, a military intelligence source said.

'CLOSED IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE'

Protesters and militia fighters enter the the U.S. Embassy during a protest to condemn air strikes on bases belonging to Hashd al-Shaabi (paramilitary forces), in Baghdad, Iraq December 31, 2019. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily

Iraqis have been taking to the streets in their thousands almost daily to condemn, among other things, militias such as Kataib Hezbollah and their Iranian patrons that support Abdul Mahdi's government.

But on Tuesday it was the militias that protested, spraying "Closed in the name of the people" on the gates of the U.S. Embassy and smashing surveillance cameras around the building.

Qais al-Khazali, leader of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia, and many other senior leaders were among the protesters. The U.S. recently imposed sanctions on him for his group's alleged involvement in attacks on anti-government protesters.

"Americans are unwanted in Iraq. They are a source of evil and we want them to leave," said Khazali, one of Iran's most important allies in Iraq.

Iranian-backed militias blamed the U.S. and Israel for attacks on their bases during the summer, and Washington has blamed Iran and its proxies for attacks on oil installations in the Gulf and rocket attacks on bases hosting U.S. forces in Iraq.

Those incidents have brought fears of a region-wide U.S.-Iran confrontation.

A cleric prays during a protest to condemn air strikes on bases belonging to Hashd al-Shaabi (paramilitary forces), outside the main gate of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq December 31, 2019. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani

Kataib Hezbollah is one of the smallest but most potent of the Iranian-backed militias. Its flags were hung on the fence surrounding the embassy.

The group said Tuesday's incident was the "first lesson" they would teach the United States and that it would be followed by a bill in parliament that would expel U.S. troops.

"We emphasise the importance of the brothers in parliament voting to expel the American forces guilty of spilling Iraqi blood and spreading corruption," it said in a statement.

Qais al-Khazali, leader of the militant group Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a commander in the Popular Mobilization Forces attend a funeral procession of Hashd al-Shaabi (paramilitary forces) members, who were killed by U.S. air strikes in Qaim district, at the Green zone in Baghdad, Iraq December 31, 2019. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani

More than 5,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Iraq supporting local forces.

(Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed, Maher Nazeh and Thaier al-Sudani; Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu and Jeff Mason in Washington, and Dubai newsroom, Writing by Maha El Dahan and Ahmed Aboulenein; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Giles Elgood)