WASHINGTON - The U.S. will send more troops to protect the embassy compound penetrated by militias and their supporters in Baghdad on Tuesday and does not plan an evacuation, the Pentagon and State Department said. We are sending additional forces to support our personnel at the Embassy.“The extra force will consist of a small additional detachment of Marine security guards, two defence officials in Washington said. They would be from the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group, which is trained specifically to provide security at U.S. diplomatic missions. “There are no plans to evacuate Embassy Baghdad.” This official also was not authorized to be cited by name. Dozens of Iraqi Shiite militiamen and their supporters broke into the U.S. Embassy compound, smashing a main door, setting fire to a reception area and drawing tear gas fired by embassy guards.

Source: thestar December 31, 2019 17:26 UTC