Militiamen withdraw from US Embassy, but Iraq tensions linger

BAGHDAD (AP):

Iran-backed militiamen withdrew from the United States (US) Embassy compound in Baghdad yesterday after two days of clashes with American security forces, but US-Iran tensions remain high and could spill over into further violence.

The withdrawal followed calls from the government and senior militia leaders. It ended a high-stakes, two-day crisis and practical siege of the largest and one of the most heavily fortified US diplomatic missions in the world. The attack prompted the Pentagon to send hundreds of additional troops to the Middle East.

In an orchestrated assault, hundreds of militiamen and their supporters broke into the embassy compound, destroying a reception area, smashing windows and spraying graffiti on walls to protest US air strikes against an Iran-backed militia over the weekend that killed 25 fighters.

The US blamed the militia for a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base in the northern city of Kirkuk last week that killed a US contractor.

The protesters set up a tent camp overnight and yesterday set fire to the reception area and hurled stones at US Marines guarding the compound, who responded with tear gas. There were no injuries on either side and no American staff were evacuated from the compound.

The Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of state-allied militias – many backed by Iran – called for its supporters to withdraw in response to an appeal by the Iraqi government, saying “your message has been received”.

By late afternoon, the tents had been taken down and the protesters relocated to the opposite side of the Tigris River, outside the so-called Green Zone housing government offices and foreign embassies. US Apache helicopters circled overhead.

“After achieving the intended aim, we pulled out from this place triumphantly,” said Fadhil al-Gezzi, a militia supporter. “We rubbed America’s nose in the dirt.”