Protesters clash with security forces at Baghdad's Green Zone gate
On Saturday night, thousands of protesters gathered at the gate of the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, where the American embassy is located, among others. They chanted, "Death to America, death to Israel." The protesters made it clear that they intended to break into the U.S. embassy and burn it down.
After the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani—who, as noted by AP, came to power with the support of political groups funded by Iran and linked to Hezbollah—declared a three-day mourning period in the country following Nasrallah's death.
Sudani condemned the killing of the Hezbollah leader, calling it a "disgraceful crime" that showed Israel "crossed all red lines."
Angry crowd on the streets of Baghdad
On Saturday night, a huge crowd gathered in Baghdad's streets, angered by Nasrallah's death. Protesters held pictures of the Hezbollah leader and banners accusing the United States and Israel. They chanted: "Death to America, death to Israel."
They wanted to burn the US embassy
The crowd marched to the gate cutting off the Green Zone from the rest of the city and began demanding that security forces open it. Protesters wanted to reach the U.S. embassy building. Many of them openly said they intended to burn it down.
Security forces and local police initially tried to persuade the protesters to disperse. When this failed, water cannons were used.
Ultimately, they managed to repel the attack of the enraged crowd and prevent them from crossing the gate and entering the bridge leading to the Green Zone.
The Green Zone is a colloquial name for the "international zone" in Iraq, located in the centre of Baghdad. It is a heavily fortified area with a total surface area of approximately 10 square kilometres. It was here, after the Second Gulf War, that the headquarters of the provisional Iraqi authorities were located.
Currently, it houses, among others, the headquarters of the Iraqi National Assembly, the offices of the Iraqi government, and portions of embassies, including those of the U.S.A. and the U.K.
