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100 US Marines Sent To Baghdad To Fortify Embassy Defenses Amid Protests

Iraqi protesters use a plumbing pipe to break the bullet-proof glass of the US embassy's windows in Baghdad, as thousands of angry Iraqis, including members the Hashed al-Shaabi breached the outer wall of the diplomatic mission on December 31, 2019. (AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images)

AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images

Shelby Talcott Senior White House Correspondent
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Around 100 U.S. Marines were sent to the American embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, to help with security as protestors attempted to break in Tuesday.

Fox News’ Lucas Tomlinson tweeted about the decision to send Marines to help fortify defenses, citing a U.S. defense official. The news comes as some of the hundreds protesting against Americans airstrikes began to try and break into the embassy, which is the largest U.S. embassy in the world.

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The embassy has been put under lockdown and protestors have not breached the compound, CNN reported, citing an embassy spokesperson. They did manage to scale walls and force the gates of the embassy. Photos show protestors working to break down the embassy’s bullet-proof windows after breaching its outer walls.

Members the Hashed al-Shaabi, a mostly Shiite network of local armed groups trained and armed by powerful neighbour Iran, smash the bullet-proof glass of the US embassy's windows in Baghdad with blocks of cement. (AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images)

Members the Hashed al-Shaabi, a mostly Shiite network of local armed groups trained and armed by powerful neighbour Iran, smash the bullet-proof glass of the US embassy’s windows in Baghdad with blocks of cement. (AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images)

This embassy employs around 16,000 staffers, but it is not clear how many people remain inside. It spans around 100 acres, which equals Vatican City in size. (Trump Denies He Gave Final Approval For Military Strikes Against Iran, Says No Planes Were In The Air)

Matthew Tueller, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, has been on vacation and was not at the compound when the protests began, the embassy spokesperson said according to CNN.

Gunshots were reportedly heard in the area, according to Fox News. Security personnel used tear gas to prevent anyone from entering the building and protestors began to burn things outside of the building. They also broke windows and security cameras and could be heard shouting “death to America!”

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The protests stem from five American airstrikes in Iraq and Syria on places controlled by Kataeb Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Iraqi Shia paramilitary group. At least 25 people died and 51 were wounded in the airstrikes, which are a response to Kataeb Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on US-Iraqi targets, CNN reported.

Trump responded to the ongoing embassy attack Tuesday morning, placing the blame on Iran. Iraq’s Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi issued a statement urging protestors to leave diplomatic buildings alone.

“While we condemn the US air strikes on Iraqi military units, and acknowledge that symbolic funeral marches for the martyrs is a solemn act of remembrance, those taking part must stay away from diplomatic buildings and compounds,” the PM said according to a tweet from the Iraqi government.