Thread by @HeshmatAlavi

#BREAKING
Jan 1 - Baghdad, #Iraq
#Iran-backed militia members/supporters attempt to storm the first gate of the U.S. Embassy.
U.S. security personnel respond with heavy tear gas fire.
english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle…

#UPDATE
Jan 1 - Baghdad, #Iraq
-U.S. military planes with personnel & equipment heading towards the Middle East region.
-Other intense aerial activity, including Israeli Air Force, also reported.

Images credit: @Intel_Sky

@Intel_Sky Jan 1 - Baghdad, #Iraq
#Iran-backed militia members/supporters setting up camp outside the U.S. Embassy compound.
Graffiti reads: "You will leave in caskets."

(Credit: @thestevennabil)

@Intel_Sky @thestevennabil #Iran dictator @Khamenei_ir:
-US taking revenge from Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi militia for destroying ISIS
-US launched ISIS
-You cannot do a damn thing
-We will react if threatened

My take:
Humiliated after U.S. airstrikes, Khamenei needs to save face.
reuters.com/article/us-ira…

@Intel_Sky @thestevennabil @khamenei_ir Jan 1 - Baghdad, #Iraq
-Scenes inside the Green Zone & near the U.S. Embassy compound.
-#Iran-backed militia members/supporters continuing their rally.
-U.S. & Iraqi security forces fired tear gas.

@Intel_Sky @thestevennabil @khamenei_ir #UPDATE
Jan 1 - Baghdad, #Iraq

-#Iran-backed militia members/supporters dismantling tents & withdrawing from U.S. Embassy compound

-Reports show US forces deployed from al-Anbar Province in western Iraq to the Green Zone to reinforce protection for the U.S.

(File Photo)

@Intel_Sky @thestevennabil @khamenei_ir Interesting to see @farnazfassihi of @nytimes quote a tweet & use the term "Iraqis" for "Kata'ib Hezbollah militia members & supporters."

FYI:
Farnaz Fassihi is a known #Iran apologist.
Kata'ib Hezbollah is an Iraqi militia group known to be backed by Iran's regime.

@Intel_Sky @thestevennabil @khamenei_ir @farnazfassihi @nytimes #UPDATE
Jan 1 - Baghdad, #Iraq
#Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi (PMF) militia members/supporters set up sit-in tents outside the Green Zone across the U.S. Embassy, according to Sky News Arabia.

Image credit: @thestevennabil

@Intel_Sky @thestevennabil @khamenei_ir @farnazfassihi @nytimes Jan 1 - Baghdad, #Iraq
Interesting how the so-called "protesters" (who are actually #Iran-backed militia members/supporters) are ushered out of the Green Zone in vehicles bearing Iraqi government license plates.

Credit: @thestevennabil

@Intel_Sky @thestevennabil @khamenei_ir @farnazfassihi @nytimes I agree 100%.
During the past 40 years, whenever faced with a crisis, especially at home, the mullahs' regime has launched another crisis abroad.
Iranians know this as the "crisis export policy."

https://twitter.com/MessageFromLen/status/1212349983304929282

@Intel_Sky @thestevennabil @khamenei_ir @farnazfassihi @nytimes #UPDATE
Jan 1
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus:
-Status under control in U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.
-The Iranian regime misunderstands American patience in the wrong way.

@Intel_Sky @thestevennabil @khamenei_ir @farnazfassihi @nytimes #UPDATE
-Up to 4,000 US troops could deploy to Middle East following unrest in Baghdad, U.S. officials say

Video:
Earlier scenes of U.S. Embassy security forces firing tear gas on crowds of #Iran-backed militia members & supporters, forcing them to leave the Green Zone.

@Intel_Sky @thestevennabil @khamenei_ir @farnazfassihi @nytimes #UPDATE
Jan 1 - Baghdad, #Iraq
Numerous U.S. Apache helicopters flying over the western suburbs of Baghdad as reports indicate they are escorting new military columns arriving in the Iraqi capital.