Thousands protest in Baghdad after Hezbollah leader's death
On Saturday night, thousands of protesters gathered at the gate of the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, where the American embassy, among others, is located. They chanted, "Death to America, death to Israel," making it clear that they intended to break into the US embassy and burn it down.
Following 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.
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 separating the Green Zone from the rest of the city and began demanding that security forces open it. Protesters wanted to reach the US embassy building. Many openly stated their intention to burn it down.
Security forces and local police initially attempted to persuade the protesters to disperse. When this failed, water cannons were used.
Ultimately, they managed to repel the attack of the enraged crowd, preventing them from crossing the gate and entering the bridge leading to the Green Zone.
The Green Zone is a colloquial term for the "international zone" in Iraq, located in the centre of Baghdad. It is a heavily fortified area covering approximately four square miles. After the Second Gulf War, it served as the headquarters for the provisional Iraqi authorities.
Currently, it houses the Iraqi National Assembly, the offices of the Iraqi government, and portions of embassies, including those of the USA and the UK.
