Crowd storms US Embassy compound in Baghdad, gunshots heard, report says
Dozens of Iraqi Shiite militia supporters many in uniforms gained entry to the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Tuesday after they smashed down a gate and stormed inside, the Associated Press reported.
An AP reporter at the scene saw flames rising from inside the compound and at least three U.S. soldiers on the roof of the embassy. The embassy was evacuated but it was not immediately clear if there were staffers holed up inside.
Hundreds of Iraqis had attempted to storm the compound earlier in the day, following the funerals for 25 fighters from an Iran-backed Shiite militia killed in U.S. airstrikes on Sunday, the Associated Press reported.
POTUS tweet:
Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
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! 38.9K 6:02 AM - Dec 31
I also posted the Daily Mail article of pictures on the full forum.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3804535/posts
Donald Trump vows to hold Iran ‘fully responsible’ for attack on US embassy in Baghdad
FTA:
Security guards were seen retreating inside the embassy earlier on Tuesday as protesters hurled bottles and smashed security cameras outside the buildings.
Flames rose from the compound as furious rioters pressed up against the bullet-proof windows within the complex, taunting the US soldiers within and spraying pro-Hezbollah graffiti over the glass.
Half a dozen US marine guards fired warning shots from the rooftops, followed by tear gas and stun grenades, at rioters who set blazes and smashed up barricades on the ground.
Hundreds of angry protesters, many in military fatigues, set up tents outside the embassy and set fire to trailers used by security guards along the embassy wall.
Twenty people have been reported injured in the carnage.
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi pleaded with the mob against any aggression towards foreign embassies and representations in Baghdad, asking protesters outside the U.S. embassy to leave ‘immediately.’
Now headline says not evacuated?.
Crowds storm US Embassy in Baghdad as officials say staff not evacuated; reports of gunfire
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This reeks of a globalist cabal gambit, hoping for POTUS to do something ... or not do something (like Ford and Myaguez incident or Carter and Iran "students") ... that will hurt him in the election.