Lindsey Graham, Tim Scott call for justice as protesters attack US embassy in Iraq
While U.S. diplomats huddled in a safe room in the embassy in Baghdad as protests loomed outside, South Carolina’s senators called for justice.
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham called on forces in Iraq to protect the American workers in the embassy as it was being besieged Tuesday by protesters angered over U.S. airstrikes that targeted and killed members of the Iran-backed militia Katib Hezbollah on Sunday. Protesters and some of the group’s fighters broke into the embassy’s compound and set fires, multiple news outlets reported.
As of noon Tuesday, the U.S. State Department reported that no Americans had been injured, and officials did not plan to evacuate.
“To our Iraqi allies: This is your moment to convince the American people the US-Iraq relationship is meaningful to you and worth protecting,” Graham said in a series of tweets Tuesday morning. “Protect our American personnel. You will not regret it.”
Graham also applauded his ally President Donald Trump, saying the commander in chief acted “decisively in the face of threats to our embassy.”
“He has put the world on notice — there will be no Benghazis on his watch,” Graham tweeted, referring to the 2012 attack on a U.S. consulate in Libya that left four Americans dead.
Early Tuesday morning, Trump tweeted about the attacks.
“They will be held fully responsible,” Trump tweeted at about 7 a.m. “In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!”
Just after noon Tuesday, Graham said that he met with Trump to discuss the situation.
“President Trump is determined to protect American personnel and expects our Iraqi partners to step up to the plate. No more Benghazis,” Graham tweeted.
U.S. Sen. Tim Scott tweeted that he was praying for the diplomats locked inside the embassy as crowds outside cheered, “Death to America.”
“Those responsible must face swift justice,” the senator said.
