Defense Secretary Mike Esper sent 100 Marines to protect the US personnel in the US Embassy in Iraq after the embassy was attacked.
Senator Lindsey Graham tweeted out in support of President Trump saying “There will be no Benghazis under his watch.”
Graham warned Iraq that it would be in their best interest to protect Americans in the embassy there:
“Very proud of President @realDonaldTrump acting decisively in the face of threats to our embassy in Baghdad. He has put the world on notice – there will be no Benghazis on his watch.”
“President Trump, unlike President Obama, will hold you accountable for threats against Americans and hit you where it hurts the most.”
“Choose your battles wisely.”
“To our Iraqi allies: This is your moment to convince the American people the US-Iraq relationship is meaningful to you and worth protecting,” Graham said. “Protect our American personnel. You will not regret it.”
The US stepped up its effort to stop the attack by sending 100 Marines to Baghdad.
Apache helicopters have also been seen in the area of the compound.
VIDEO: AH-64 Apaches protect @USEmbBaghdad. 🚁“We have taken appropriate force protection actions to ensure the safety of American citizens…and to ensure our right of self-defense. We are sending additional forces to support our personnel at the Embassy.”~@EsperDoD 🇺🇸🇮🇶 pic.twitter.com/amABHBAOcL
— OIR Spokesman Col. Wayne Marotto (@OIRSpox) December 31, 2019
Three pro-Iran militia leaders are stirring things up:
These 3 pro-Iran militia leaders are rabble-rousing protesters at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad https://t.co/JwU9Ln6q2F
Next time, Marines will kill them.— shak (@Shak5166) December 31, 2019
The groups protesting are pro-Iran militias trying to stir up anti-American sentiment.
OUR PREVIOUS REPORT:
Iranian-backed militias are attacking the US Embassy in Iraq and have burned the outer fence of the embassy storming the gates.
The Iranian militia’s attack comes after the US retaliated on Iran’s attack that killed one American and wounded four. US airstrikes killed fighters from the Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Shiite militia group in Iraq and Syria after the American contractor was killed.
President Trump called out Iran on the death of an American in a tweet earlier today (see below), warning that they will be “held fully responsible” for the attack by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.
He also warned Iraq that they must protect the US Embassy there.
Burning the outer fence of the US embassy pic.twitter.com/wAeLjjQMy4
— Mustafa Saadoon (@SaadoonMustafa) December 31, 2019
“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!” – President Trump
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1211981022084128768?s=20
The militia members claim they will not spare any lives of Americans in the compound:
if you're going to chant "death to America!" and threaten to kill every employee in the Embassy, maybe you shouldn't wear a NY Yankees hat… just a thought https://t.co/XCKCHatIGT
— Caleb Hull (I'm With the CCP Don't Ban Me) (@CalebJHull) December 31, 2019
The group of extremists barged into the compound after burning the fence:
https://twitter.com/Text88022/status/1212012685757485058?s=20
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: