Pentagon deploys 100 Marines in Chinooks to reinforce under-siege US embassy in Baghdad after it was attacked by pro-Iran mob in retaliation for US airstrikes on Hezbollah, as President Trump warns Tehran it will be held 'fully responsible'
- A swarm of protesters attacked the US embassy in Baghdad, Iraq on Tuesday
- Militia fighters broke through the compound gate and set fires within the high-security complex
- American soldiers inside the embassy have fired tear gas, stun grenades and warning shots at the fighters
- The ambassador was on leave at the time of the attack and embassy staff had already been evacuated before the US Marine guard became besieged at the compound
- The Pentagon deployed 100 additional Marines to the embassy in Chinook helicopters in wake of attack
- Trump has vowed to hold Tehran accountable for the embassy attack, which is in retaliation for US air strikes on the Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah on Sunday night
- Those USAF strikes were themselves in retaliation for last week's killing of an American contractor in Kirkuk
- Trump tweeted Tuesday: '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'
- The embassy's security team evacuated some local staff through a rear gate while others left by helicopter as the rest remained inside 'safe' areas within the embassy, an employee said
- 62 protesters have been reported injured in the carnage by the pro-Iran Popular Mobilization Forces
- The State Department said that all embassy personnel were safe and that no evacuation was planned