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Iraq

Summary of New Year’s Day’s events: Protesters withdraw from US embassy perimeter - Iraqi military

2020-01-02

[Jpost] "All protesters have withdrawn, tents dismantled, and other forms of demonstrating that accompanied these protests have ended," the Iraqi military said.

All members of paramilitary groups and their supporters who have been protesting against US air strikes in Iraq have withdrawn from the perimeter of the US Embassy in Baghdad on Wednesday, the Iraqi military said."All protesters have withdrawn, tents dismantled, and other forms of demonstrating that accompanied these protests have ended and the Iraqi security forces have completely secured the embassy perimeter," it said in a statement.The protests, led by Iranian-backed militias, mark a new turn in the shadow war between Washington and Tehran playing out across the Middle East.US President Donald Trump
...dictatorial for repealing some (but not all) of the diktats of his predecessor, misogynistic because he likes pretty girls, homophobic because he doesn't think gender bending should be mandatory, truly a man for all seasons......
, who faces re-election in 2020, on Tuesday threatened to retaliate against Iran
Iran

...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan, the abbreviation IRGC is a cognate form of Stürmabteilung (or SA), the term Supreme Guide is a cognate form of either Shah or Führer or maybe both, and they hate ~~Jews~~ ~~Zionists~~ Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol...
but said later he did not want to go to war.

The protests also cast uncertainty over the continued presence of US troops in Iraq.

Crowds had rallied on Tuesday to protest against deadly US air strikes on militia bases, setting fires, throwing rocks and smashing surveillance cameras. They did not breach the huge embassy's main compound, however.

Overnight, demonstrators pitched tents and camped outside the embassy walls. On Wednesday morning, they were bringing in food supplies, cooking equipment and mattresses, Rooters witnesses said, suggesting they intended to stay for a long time.

Senior Iraqi army officers had negotiated with those gathered outside the embassy in an attempt to convince them to leave but failed to do so. Washington is putting pressure on Iraqi leaders to ensure the security of its staff.

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 US invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

The protests followed US air strikes on Sunday on bases operated by the Iranian-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah inside Iraq which killed at least 25 fighters and maimed 55. The strikes were retaliation for the killing of a US civilian contractor in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base, which Washington blamed on Kataib Hezbollah.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
...the actual dictator of Iran, successor to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini...
on Wednesday condemned the US attacks.

"The Iranian government, nation and I strongly condemn the attacks," Iranina state TV quoted Khamenei as saying.

Trump accused Iran of orchestrating the violence at the US Embassy and said Tehran would be held responsible. Iran rejected the accusation.

More US troops were being sent to the embassy, US officials said. The 750 troops would initially be based out of Kuwait. The officials said that as many as 4,000 troops could be sent to the region in the coming days if needed.

More than 5,000 US troops are stationed in Iraq supporting local forces. The air strikes have galvanized calls inside Iraq to expel US forces, not just from Iran-backed militias but also their political rivals.

The Times of Israel posted the following report at midday:

For weeks, the anti-government protesters have been trying to enter the Green Zone housing the government and the US Embassy, but have been beaten back by security forces, who have killed hundreds of demonstrators.

The militiamen and their supporters, however, were able to quickly enter the Green Zone and mass in front of the embassy, with little if any resistance from authorities.

By Wednesday morning, they had set up a small sit-in of their own, with around 50 tents set up between two main gates about 500 meters (yards) apart. Demonstrators set up a makeshift clinic and cooks with aprons reading “Popular Mobilization Forces logistical support” served meals out of giant pots. Mobile toilets were also set up in the area.

Vehicles belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, with government plates, were parked nearby, and the militiamen manned checkpoints where they searched all those arriving at the site of the demonstration.

Outside one of the gates, a Shiite cleric recited verses from the Muslim holy book, the Quran, through a loudspeaker. Another cleric led the protesters in midday prayers.

Demonstrators could be seen hurling rocks over the walls of the embassy compound, where US troops responded by firing tear gas from the roofs of buildings. Iraqi security forces deployed nearby watched the standoff unfold without intervening.

And from the Jerusalem Post:

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad said on Wednesday that all public consular operations were suspended, a day after Iran-backed militias and their supporters stormed its outer perimeter, setting fires, throwing rocks and smashing surveillance cameras.

"Due to militia attacks at the U.S. Embassy compound, all public consular operations are suspended until further notice. All future appointments are canceled. U.S. citizens are advised to not approach the embassy," it said in a statement.

Posted by:trailing wife

#10 And not trying to cover up illegal acts with the blood of American soldiers and civilians.

Posted by: gorb 2020-01-02 17:35

#9 ...and he twitted his actions, not sending errand boys and girls to lie on the MSM outlets about what transpired.

Posted by: Procopius2k 2020-01-02 13:50

#8 This is exactly like Benghazi, except for no Americans dying and the President immediately dispatching Marines, Apaches and a unit of the 82nd Airborne to the scene.

Posted by: Matt 2020-01-02 12:51

#7 the US military did a fine job

the Iraqi military did essentially nothing

no surrounding the wannabe terrorists (calling them protestors is basically a lie) when they were breaking in and no arrests when the terrorists left

Posted by: lord garth 2020-01-02 12:39

#6 As our family Marine Sargent likes to say, "We aren't trained to 'hurt' you."

Posted by: Mullah Richard 2020-01-02 11:05

#5 #Restart and #MIGA are two hashtag vectors into Persian Opposition social media.

Posted by: mossomo 2020-01-02 09:33

#4 Knowing they will gain nothing more than the initial media splash, they are likely fading away to avoid detention and interrogation.

Protecting their network is now the goal.

Posted by: Besoeker 2020-01-02 04:07

#3 The other side didn't have the will to engage further with more US assets arriving, or they didn't think this was the time for an engagement.

Call it a half blink.

Posted by: DarthVader 2020-01-02 00:52

#2 So members of some group attacked the embassy, and brought in tents and whatever, evidently planning to stay and continue their obnoxious behavior.
Trump threatened to retaliate against Iran if this continued,
The group quickly changed its plan and withdrew.
Sounds pretty wimpy on their side.
The Ayatollah got scared?

Posted by: daniel 2020-01-02 00:49

#1 Iranian Regime Under Seige, Maybe Attacking US ME Assets to Rally a unhappy population and are blaiming the US for domestic unrest.

Major Iran protests erupted in November 2019 triggering the greatest existential crisis in the regime's 40-year history. Protesters took to the streets in at least 191 cities calling for regime change. The regime has resorted to brute repression, killing at least 1500 protesters and arresting thousands more. It also shut down Iran’s internet completely for a week, blocking images of the protests from reaching the outside world.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE IRAN PROTESTS:
Number of restive cities: 191
Number of martyrs: At least 1500
Number of injured: More than 4,000
Number of detainees: More than 12,000

The protests began on November 15, 2019 over a three-fold rise in gasoline prices but in less than 24 hours, the chants became entirely political. Iranians are chanting “Death to Khamenei” and “Death to Rouhani” on the streets of Iran. They want regime change.

Posted by: Goober Tingle7365 2020-01-02 00:47

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