Phone Video Shows Iraqi Militia Trash US Embassy

A phone video taken by a Kataeb Hezbollah militia member showed supporters of the Iran-backed Iraqi militia trashing the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Tuesday, December 31.

Security forces at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad fired tear gas Tuesday in response to protesters who breached the outer edge of the compound as they rallied in condemnation of U.S. airstrikes targeting an Iranian-backed militia in Iraq and Syria.

Some of the thousands of protesters set small fires, threw stones and waved flags in support of militia groups. The U.S. airstrikes targeting Kataeb Hezbollah weapons storage facilities and command and control locations across Iraq and eastern Syria killed at least 25 people and injured dozens more.

U.S. officials said the strikes – which were condemned by top Iraqi officials — were in response to a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base on Friday that killed a U.S. defense contractor.

U.S. officials said the evidence left no doubt Kataeb Hezbollah was responsible. On Monday, Iraq’s prime minister said the U.S. actions were unacceptable and “will have dangerous consequences.”