With Iraqi protesters encircling the United States Embassy in Baghdad on New Year’s Eve, President Trump mobilized 100 Marines from Kuwait to fortify troops stationed at the diplomatic center.
Protesters outside the embassy shouted “death to America” and vowed to remain until American forces left Iraq.
Tensions flared in Baghdad after American military strikes in the region killed at least 25 Iranian-backed Shiite militia last week. The military strikes were carried out after Kata’ib Hezbollah militia murdered an American contractor at an Iraqi military base in late December.
Former national security adviser John Bolton tweeted that the protesters were likely “a sign of Iranian control over Shia militia groups, not a sign of Iraqi anti-Americanism.”
Trump also suggested that Iran was involved in the protests, tweeting: “Iran is orchestrating an attack on the US Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible.”
