2 January

Demonstrators at the US Embassy in Baghdad withdrew on Wednesday after two days of violent protests. They were angry at US air strikes against an Iranian-backed militant group.

Sunday's military strikes by the United States killed more than 20 people. The targets were sites in Iraq and Syria connected to the Kataib Hezbollah militant group.

Washington says the military action was in response to Friday's attacks that killed a US civilian on a base in northern Iraq.

On Tuesday, protesters broke into the embassy compound and smashed windows. US troops were dispatched to the embassy to address the emergency.

US President Donald Trump phoned Iraq's interim prime minister and asked him to protect the embassy, but the Iraqi government failed to come up with appropriate measures.

The protests were contained on Wednesday after a senior member of the Shia militia called on the protesters to withdraw.

Trump took to Twitter, accusing Iran of orchestrating the protests. He wrote Iran will be held fully responsible.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday denied Iran's involvement, saying if Iran makes a decision to confront any country, it will do so "unhesitatingly."

NHK