On January 1, U.S. troops fired tear gas to disperse pro-Iran protesters who were gathered outside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad.

On December 31, thousands of protesters stormed and entered the US embassy compound in Baghdad. The incident occurred at midday as smaller groups of protesters managed to enter the heavily fortified International Zone of Baghdad, also known as the Green Zone.

Shortly thereafter, the number of protesters increased and walls and guard towers of the compound were reportedly set on fire. The US ambassador and the staff of the embassy have left the compound before the incident.

The violent protest follows lethal US airstrikes on Iraq’s Hezbollah and PMF headquarters on December 29.