Iraq’s pro-Iran militia orders withdrawal from US embassy
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Supporters of Iraq’s Hashed al-Shaabi force began dismantling their sit-in outside the US embassy in Baghdad on Wednesday, but hardliners insisted they would stay put.
The Hashed, a powerful paramilitary network integrated into Iraq’s state security forces, ordered its backers to end their protest outside the US mission.
U.S. troops fired tear gas on Wednesday to disperse pro-Iran protesters who were gathered outside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad for a second day.
Meanwhile Iran protested on Wednesday to a Swiss envoy representing U.S. interests in Tehran over what it called “warmongering statements” by American officials, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said.
The Foreign Ministry summoned the Swiss charge d’affaires and issued “Iran’s strong protest against warmongering statements in violation of the United Nations Charter by U.S. officials”, the ministry said on its website.
Tuesday, protesters breached the embassy compound walls, chanted “death to America” and set small fires on the premises. The militia fighters stayed outside the facility Tuesday night.
Wednesday, the group lit a fire on the roof of the reception area, ABC News said the Associate Press reported, which prompted a response from the U.S. military.
Dozens of pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters had camped out at the gates of the embassy in Baghdad where they stayed the night, a day after they broke into the compound, trashing a reception area and smashing windows in one of the worst attacks on the embassy in recent memory.
The U.S. Marines guarding the embassy fired tear gas after the protesters lit a fire on the roof of the reception area. Smoke rose from the building.
