Reports Of US Embassy Being Evacuated As Baghdad’s Green Zone Breached

Days of pro-Muqtada Sadr protests and unrest have reportedly resulted in Baghdad’s high secure Green Zone being breached Monday, placing international diplomatic missions and foreign embassies under threat.

AFP is reporting that an exchange of gunfire has been observed as dozens or possibly hundreds of supporters riot, with police using riot control measures like water cannons to repel an attack on the Green Zone. There are unconfirmed reports that the sprawling and iconic Iraqi Republican Palace has been forcibly breached with protesters inside.

Live ammunition being used.
Unconfirmed reports of injuries. #Iraq #Baghdad pic.twitter.com/LUNpZT8TRW

— Tammuz Intel (@Tammuz_Intel) August 29, 2022

The fresh unrest appears to be in response to Sadr being pressured to exit politics, with the influential Shia cleric tweeting earlier in the day, “Earlier I decided that I would not interfere in political affairs. And now I announce my final retirement (from politics) and the closure of all institutions (belonging to the Sadr movement).”

The past months have witness periodic unrest as Shia factions struggle to form a government, which has also resulted in sporadic violence amid gridlock in parliament. Against this backdrop, for the last two years pro-Iran militia groups have launched occasional rocket attacks on US bases and even at times the heavily fortified American embassy. Sadr’s supporters believe there’s a conspiracy against him.

Though as yet unconfirmed from the US side, there are widespread reports that the United States Embassy which is located inside the Green Zone is currently being evacuated.

The US embassy employees have been evacuated from the #Green_Zone by the helicopter.#Baghdad, #Iraq pic.twitter.com/HLZerzb0ja

— خالد اسكيف (@khalediskef) August 29, 2022

Convoys of international vehicles have also been seen speeding from the areas of unrest, exiting the confines of the Green Zone.

Below are some developments according to Iraqi war correspondent Ali Almikdam:

closure of the shrine of Imam Al Kadhim
Intense security deployment near Baghdad International Airport.
Sadr’s supporters storm the government palace & the Republican Palace.
Curfew in Baghdad.
US embassy is evacuating

which resulted from the political blockage between the conflicting forces.

After the statement announced by the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada Al-Sadr, Iraq Future Center confirms the importance of committing to democratic standards…2/5

— Iraq Future Center (@IraqFCDS) August 29, 2022

Purported footage of protesters breaching the symbolic seat of government for the Iraqi state, which is at the heart of the walled Green Zone:

Protestors storm the Presidential Palace in Baghdad.

pic.twitter.com/VorN5JtrA7

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) August 29, 2022

developing…