Dozens of Iran-backed Shiite militia Hezbollah supporters, many in uniform and with Hezbollah flags, stormed the the U.S. Embassy compound on Tuesday, smashing a gate and reportedly setting fire to one of the compound’s outer towers. There are hundreds gathered outside and around the embassy grounds.

https://twitter.com/sotiridi/status/1211945820318253056

They’ve gotten inside the compound perimeter and gunfire has been heard.

#Breaking: Video of the #Hezbollah supporters now sitting just outside the #US embassy building in #Baghdad's green zone in #Iraq, after they smashed their way inside the compound perimeter. pic.twitter.com/0aSw5avrEN

— Sotiri Dimpinoudis (@sotiridi) December 31, 2019

The U.S. ambassador and staff had already been evacuated from the embassy, but there are U.S. military on site and it’s not clear who else may still be there. Three U.S. soldiers were spotted by an AP reporter on the roof of the embassy. Iraqi security officers are also inside, helping to protect the embassy and the people.

#Update: Just in – Video of the sounds of explosions of the stun grenades being thrown by #US soldiers of the roof, towards #Hezbollah protestors inside the US embassy compound in #Baghdad #Iraq. pic.twitter.com/kLeL88Lkec

— Sotiri Dimpinoudis (@sotiridi) December 31, 2019

The attackers are allegedly responding to U.S. airstrikes that killed Iran-back militia earlier in the week which were in response to a U.S. defense contractor being killed in a rocket attack by the militia.

Iran appears to be trying to pretend they are just normal “Iraqi protesters” but no one (except people like CNN) is buying it.

#Iran is directly responsible for orchestrating the storming of the US Embassy in #Iraq & must be held accountable for it & the safety of every American serving there.

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) December 31, 2019

The “Iraqi protesters” besieging the US Embassy in Baghdad are Iranian-backed Shiite militia belonging to Hezbollah and other paramilitary orgs that are trying to give the impression that they’re just civilian protesters.

They’re an astroturfed “Popular Mobilization Force.” pic.twitter.com/8r9zE8i4Xz

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) December 31, 2019

President Donald Trump has already condemned the attack and is pointing at Iran.

Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019

You can see the “protesters” here are in uniform.

#Update: Video of more #Hezbollah supporters fainting down due to the inhalation of tear gas being shot by Iraqi security officers, at the #US embassy building in #Baghdad in #Iraq. pic.twitter.com/lRJNLPkIjO

— Sotiri Dimpinoudis (@sotiridi) December 31, 2019

#Update: Just in – A spokesperson of the #Hezbollah protestors said "we have no intent to smash our way inside the #US embassy building", we only have on mission to force #Iraq to close down the compound, and to expel all members and ambassadors of the embassy in #Baghdad.

— Sotiri Dimpinoudis (@sotiridi) December 31, 2019

https://twitter.com/NewsBreaking/status/1211963137265680384

Dec 31 – Baghdad, #Iraq
Footage of a security tower burning inside the U.S Embassy compound.pic.twitter.com/QJTxM93zGp

— Heshmat Alavi (@HeshmatAlavi) December 31, 2019

“Qassim Sulaimani is my leader” militia members wrote on the wall of the U.S embassy in #Baghdad #Iraq , Cleary Iran is orchestrating the attack right now pic.twitter.com/x0vGOrDiPM

— Steven Nabil (@thestevennabil) December 31, 2019

Qasem Soleimani is the leader of Iran’s Quds Force, he built the Iraqi militias.

Graffiti, in red in support of the Kataeb Hezbollah, read: “Closed in the name of the resistance.” They were also chanting “Death to America.”

#IRGC backed terrorists of Kataib Hezbollah (#Iraq #PMU's 45th Brigade) are now trying to enter the main building of #US Embassy in #Baghdad's #GreenZone. If they enter that building, #US Private Contractors responsible for its protection will shoot & kill them. pic.twitter.com/F3wPBmQIBp

— Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee) December 31, 2019

Iraqi security has been trying to push the militia supporters back. Additional forces are reportedly responding, said US Defense Secretary Mark Esper.

From SMH:

“We have taken appropriate force protection actions to ensure the safety of American citizens, military personnel and diplomats in country, and to ensure our right of self-defense,” Esper said in a statement.

“As in all countries, we rely on host nation forces to assist in the protection of our personnel in country, and we call on the Government of Iraq to fulfill its international responsibilities to do so,” he added.

This is a developing story and we will continue to update.

HT: Fox News