Militiamen withdraw from US Embassy but Iraq tensions linger

iraq-us-3

This Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, image provided by Maxar Technologies shows black smoke coming out of the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad. Iran-backed militiamen withdrew from the embassy compound in Baghdad on Wednesday after two days of clashes with American security forces, but U.S.-Iran tensions remain high and could spill over into further violence. (Satellite image ©2020 Maxar Technologies via AP)

iraq-us-3

Iran-backed militiamen have withdrawn from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad after two days of clashes with American security forces. There were no casualties or evacuations Wednesday. But U.S.-Iran tensions could spill over into further violence. Hundreds of militiamen and their supporters attacked the embassy compound on Tuesday, protesting U.S. airstrikes against an Iran-backed militia that killed 25 fighters. The U.S. blamed the militia for a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base that killed a U.S. contractor. The violence came as Iran and its allies across the region face unprecedented mass protests. Heavy U.S. sanctions have cratered Iran’s economy.