Why The U.S. Embassy In Iraq Became A Target Of Anger Again

Iraq has been dealing with widespread protests for months, but these demonstrations have been directed at the country's weak, faltering government — and not the U.S.

This changed dramatically as Iraqi militiamen and their supporters targeted the U.S. Embassy in central Baghdad. In violent protests Tuesday, the crowd set fires and badly damaged a perimeter gatehouse. Several hundred returned on Wednesday, throwing stones at the embassy and facing tear gas from the U.S. forces. The protests appeared to be winding down Wednesday afternoon as the militia behind the demonstrations called on its supporters to leave.