Protesters have reportedly forced an evacuation of the United States embassy in Baghdad. Even though this has yet to be 100 percent confirmed, it does appear as if there is a serious situation developing.
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
🇮🇶 Reportedly footage of UN employees or US embassy staff leaving Baghdad's Green Zone. pic.twitter.com/QJzPvP1vlZ
— Elias Mţûbëx 🇰🇪🇷🇺 (@Eliasmtubex) August 29, 2022
Then there’s all of this chaos.
Protestors storm the Presidential Palace in Baghdad.
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) August 29, 2022
Chaos inside the Republican Palace after the Sadrists took control of the palace.
#Iraq pic.twitter.com/7wYVntsPrZ— خالد اسكيف (@khalediskef) August 29, 2022
When a protest looks a lot like a pool party…
Supporters of Iraqi populist leader Moqtada al-Sadr swim as they protest inside the Republican Palace in the Green Zone, in Baghdad, Iraq August 29, 2022. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad pic.twitter.com/44z6WYYbPU
— Phil Stewart (@phildstewart) August 29, 2022
The White House and the United States State Department are claiming that the reports of the embassy being evacuated are false.
State Dept says reports the US evacuated its Embassy in Baghdad are false.
From a State Department Spokesperson:
•These reports are false.
•As a matter of policy, we do not comment on matters involving internal security.— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) August 29, 2022
NEW: White House calls reports of unrest today throughout Iraq, “disturbing.”
"Now’s the time for dialogue not escalating confrontation."
No evacuation going on at the US Embassy in Baghdad, they say. @NewsNation
— Kellie Meyer (@KellieMeyerNews) August 29, 2022
This of course contradicts all other reporting.
A nationwide curfew has been declared.
JUST IN – Iraq declares nationwide curfew until further notice amid clashes.
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) August 29, 2022
People are mocking statements coming from the US State Department.
People are mocking the statement by the US embassy in Baghdad in which it warns against “endangering the security, stability and sovereignty of Iraq”. https://t.co/gFLni3auhF
— asad abukhalil أسعد أبو خليل (@asadabukhalil) August 29, 2022
The #US State Department: The news about evacuating our embassy in #Baghdad is not true!#Iraq #USA
— خالد اسكيف (@khalediskef) August 29, 2022
There are reports of gunfire on the streets of Baghdad between different political factions.
#BREAKING Gunfire heard in #Baghdad during clashes between Sadr supporters and Iran-backed militias supporters pic.twitter.com/F5OYHFGz63
— Guy Elster (@guyelster) August 29, 2022
None of this is particularly shocking. The Green Zone was previously breached just a few weeks back by angry protesters. It was really only a matter of time before things exploded.
I’ll provide more commentary on this news when the dust settles, but we could be looking at another Saigon/Kabul moment.
Baghdad is about to become the next Kabul.
Biden is 0-2.
— Graham Allen (@GrahamAllen_1) August 29, 2022
JOE BIDEN: "There's going to be NO CIRCUMSTANCE where you see people being LIFTED OFF THE ROOF of a embassy," Biden vowed on July 8, 2021…
Afghanistan: 8/15/ 2021
Baghdad: 8/29/2022 pic.twitter.com/YLHLzo6Hwy
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) August 29, 2022
US EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD EVACUATED BY THE ROOF AMIDST VIOLENCE INSIDE THE GREEN ZONE pic.twitter.com/b2A8KWYByf
— The_Real_Fly (@The_Real_Fly) August 29, 2022
