After U.S. soldiers fired tear gas Wednesday at protesters surrounding the U.S. Embassy compound in Iraq following two days of violent clashes, Iran-backed militiamen retreated on orders from the government and senior militia leaders. But tensions remain, according to the Associated Press and other outlets.
On Tuesday, protesters shouting “Death to America,” stormed the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad, setting fires, scrawling anti-American graffiti and planting flags for Iran-backed militia groups. The chaos continued on Wednesday as protesters lit the roof of a reception area within the compound on fire, according to the AP.
The initial attack prompted President Trump to deploy approximately 750 U.S. troops to the area, as he charged that Iran was “fully responsible” for the embassy attack. About 3,000 additional troops are also preparing for possible deployment in the coming days.
The protests are reportedly in response to a series of U.S. airstrikes that killed 25 militia fighters on Sunday. The strike was in retaliation for a rocket strike on an Iraqi military compound that killed a U.S. defense contractor and injured U.S. and Iraqi service members.
As Iraqi security forces did not attempt to stop the protesters, the storming of the Embassy could heighten concern about the relationship between the United States and Iraq, especially amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran. About 5,000 U.S. troops are still stationed in Iraq, and some of the Iranian-backed militia wants them withdrawn, according to AP.
Iraq is already in the midst of a tumultuous period. Since October, more than 450 people have been killed in mass protests criticizing the country’s poor quality of life and demanding new electoral laws and accountability for corruption. In November, Adel Abdul-Mahdi announced he would resign as Prime Minister of the country after weeks of violent protests.
Here is how events have unfolded in recent days.
Friday, Dec. 27: U.S. defense contractor killed in rocket attack in Iraq
A U.S. defense contractor was killed in an attack on an Iraqi military compound near Kirkuk, Iraq, according to the Associated Press. The attack also injured four U.S. service members and two Iraqi Security Forces members, according to the Department of Defense. As many as 30 rockets were fired in the attack.
The U.S. blamed the Iranian-backed militia for the assault. On Monday, the group denied responsibility for the Dec. 27 attack through a spokesperson, according to the New York Times.
Several other similar attacks have occurred over the past few months, according to the AP.
Sunday, Dec. 29: U.S. strikes kill 25 militia members
The U.S. conducts airstrikes on five sites of Kataeb Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia, according to the Department of Defense. The U.S. indicated that the strikes were in retaliation for the rocket attack. The attack killed 25 fighters, according to the Associated Press.
“The U.S. and its coalition partners fully respect Iraqi sovereignty, and support a strong and independent Iraq. The U.S., however, will not be deterred from exercising its right of self-defense,” Assistant to the Secretary of Defense Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement. He called on Iran and the militias to stop attacking U.S. and coalition forces.
The Iraqi government expressed outrage about the attack, calling it a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty, according to AP.
Monday, Dec. 30: Iraq expresses outrage after airstrike
Speaking to cabinet members, Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi declared three days of mourning for the people killed in the strikes, according to the Associated Press. He said that he had attempted to stop the U.S. airstrike, but the U.S. had insisted.
Tuesday, Dec. 31: Protesters break into the U.S. Embassy compound
After a funeral for fighters killed in the airstrikes, protesters broke into the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad.
Protesters gathered outside the compound shouting “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!” and started to throw water and stones over its walls. They smashed through a main door, set a reception area on fire, and covered the embassy wall with militia flags and anti-U.S. graffiti. They also planted flags above the reception area, according to the Associated Press. Many were wearing militia uniforms, according to the AP.
The Iraqi security forces didn’t try to stop the protesters, permitting them to pass a security checkpoint, according to the AP.
Commanders from militias that support Iran joined the protest outside the embassy, the AP reported.
After the breach, Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper said in a statement that additional forces are being sent to support the embassy. He also called on Iraq to help protect the facility.
“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,” Esper said.
President Trump blamed Iran for the contractor’s death and the storming of the U.S. Embassy on Twitter.
“They will be held fully responsible,” Trump wrote. “In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!”
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham reaffirmed the President’s position in a statement to the Associated Press
“As the president said, Iran is orchestrating this attack and they will be held fully responsible,” Grisham said. “It will be the president’s choice how and when we respond to their escalation.”
On Tuesday afternoon, President Trump declared on Twitter that the Embassy is “safe” and that U.S. personnel had rushed to the scene.
Wednesday, January 1: U.S. troops use tear gas on protesters and President Trump deploys more troops
The protests picked up again on Wednesday, as demonstrators started a fire on the roof of the reception area. This prompted U.S. troops to fire tear gas at the crowd, according to the Associated Press.
Iraqi federal police, counterterrorism forces and soldiers lined up in between the protesters and the compound. There were no reports of conflict between Iraqi officials and the protesters.
President Donald Trump ordered more troops to be deployed to the Middle East as he asserted that Iran was “fully responsible” for the embassy attack. Approximately 750 troops are expected to be sent as a result of the embassy attack and another 3,000 could possibly be deployed in the next few days.
“This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today,” Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a written statement, according to the AP.
Write to Tara Law at tara.law@time.com and Josiah Bates at josiah.bates@time.com.