There were dramatic scenes at the United States embassy in Baghdad as thousands of protesters demanded an end of American intervention. The two-day standoff was the latest episode in spiraling tensions between the US and Iran.
The protesters belonging to a paramilitary force surrounded the heavily-fortified compound in the Iraqi capital throwing rocks and setting parts of its perimeter on fire. The US was eventually forced to deploy troops to secure the compound before the protesters withdrew on instructions by their leaders. How these protesters marched up to the high-security compound remains unanswered, raising doubts as to whether the Iraqi government was complicit.
There is widespread anger in Iraq over recent US airstrikes against Hezbollah brigades in Iraq and Syria that killed more than 27 fighters. The US claimed they were launched in retaliation to a rocket attack that killed a civilian contractor. The protesters aimed to deliver a message that US intervention was no longer welcome in Iraq.
US President Donald Trump has blamed Iran for the demonstrations. Tehran has denied the accusation of involvement saying Iraq was an independent country. Iran issued a sharp-worded response warning it will confront any threat to national interests. The embassy attack was the latest episode between the US and Iran since Trump withdrew from the nuclear accord and re-imposed sanctions.
The attack was reminiscent of the 1979 Iran hostage crisis when protesters supporting Ayatollah Khomeini stormed the US embassy in Tehran holding 52 diplomats and citizens hostage for 444 days. This was at the peak of the Islamic Revolution when Shah of Iran was overthrown. Many of the recent tensions are being played out in Iraq, which has close ties with both governments. Iraq being used to fight a proxy war between the US and Iran.
The embassy standoff could have further implications and threaten regional security. There should be no military confrontation as the price of an attack on Iran would be too high for the region. The US spent trillions on the Iraq war which killed over a million people and immensely damaged the country. Iraq is now facing internal strife and dozens of militias are operating in the war-ravaged nation.
There is still resentment over US presence in Iraq. It is evident that Trump’s maximum pressure policy against Iran has failed. The incident has shown the fragile nature of peace between US and Iran. While a war or words has been ongoing, there is no possibility of tensions spiraling into a war.
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