It’s like a bad rerun.
The Biden administration is claiming that a video of a helicopter landing at the US embassy in Baghdad during a gun battle is misinformation.
The unrest began after cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced he was retiring from politicos after demanding new elections and parliament dissolution. As the city descended into fighting, it was ignored by the mainstream media claiming it was just protestors; however, gunshots were heard throughout the area as militias stormed government buildings.
If you click on the social media posts below, you can translate. Below the post, captions reads, “The walls of the Green Zone.”
أسوار المنطقة الخضراء في #بغداد .#العراق pic.twitter.com/ypwHshX9aZ
— خالد اسكيف (@khalediskef) August 29, 2022
A video shows the storming of the #Wasit Governorate Council by followers of the Sadrist movement.#Iraq pic.twitter.com/67kNCEEDhG
— خالد اسكيف (@khalediskef) August 29, 2022
Things quickly escalated…
The situation inside the Republican Palace in the #Green_Zone after the riot police arrived.#Baghdad, #Iraq pic.twitter.com/XeoBlm0BaS
— خالد اسكيف (@khalediskef) August 29, 2022
Militants affiliated with the #Sadrist movement spread in #Basra.#Iraq pic.twitter.com/VpV2gs0L5G
— خالد اسكيف (@khalediskef) August 29, 2022
Gunfire has been heard in the #Green_Zone.#Baghdad #Iraq pic.twitter.com/QyXLRyIahx
— خالد اسكيف (@khalediskef) August 29, 2022
Small arms and gunfire continued to be heard in the area.
سُمعت أصوات إطلاق نار في محيط مقر #الحشد_الشعبي في #المنطقة_الخضراء ببغداد.#بغداد #العراق pic.twitter.com/VQa7RFonQM
— خالد اسكيف (@khalediskef) August 29, 2022
Iraq security forces did expel the skirmishers.
The security forces tighten the noose around the followers of the Sadrist movement in the #Green_Zone to force them to leave it.#Iraq pic.twitter.com/Zgb4vRv0VG
— خالد اسكيف (@khalediskef) August 29, 2022
A reporter on the ground claimed that the USA and the UN had evacuated.
Footage from the US Embassy compound in Baghdad.
Looks identical! #Iraq #Afghanistan #Vietnam pic.twitter.com/pfxwDMwuPy— Baxtiyar Goran ☀️ (@BaxtiyarGoran) August 29, 2022
The US embassy employees have been evacuated from the #Green_Zone by the helicopter.#Baghdad, #Iraq pic.twitter.com/HLZerzb0ja
— خالد اسكيف (@khalediskef) August 29, 2022
However, the State Department announced that personnel was not evacuated.
State Dept says reports the US evacuated its Embassy in Baghdad are false.
From a State Department Spokesperson:
•These reports are false.
•As a matter of policy, we do not comment on matters involving internal security.— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) August 29, 2022
Keep in mind this is the Biden administration, so you never know what is actually going on.
#United_Nations vehicles leave the Green Zone.#Baghdad, #Iraq pic.twitter.com/O9kQoDOqjh
— خالد اسكيف (@khalediskef) August 29, 2022
Joint Operations Command has announced in the city until further notice.
This is a developing story and it will be updated as more information becomes available.