Protesters&nbsp;angry about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-airstrikes-kill-25-pro-iran-militia-fighters-in-iraq-and-syria-triggering-anger-271052">US&nbsp;airstrikes</a> on&nbsp;Iraq&nbsp;hurled stones and torched a&nbsp;security&nbsp;post&nbsp;at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-donald-trump-blames-iran-for-us-embassy-attack-in-baghdad-promises-us-will-always-respond-strongly-271317">US&nbsp;Embassy</a>&nbsp;in Baghdad on Tuesday, setting off a confrontation with guards and prompting the United States to send&nbsp;additional&nbsp;troops&nbsp;to the Middle East.

The protests, led by Iranian-backed militias, posed a new foreign policy challenge for&nbsp;US&nbsp;President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/global-stocks-rattled-after-donald-trump-says-no-deadline-on-us-china-trade-deal-266025">Donald Trump</a>, who faces re-election in 2020. He threatened to retaliate against Iran.

The State Department said diplomatic personnel inside were safe and there were no plans to evacuate them.

Embassy&nbsp;guards used stun grenades and tear gas to repel&nbsp;protesters, who stormed and&nbsp;burned the&nbsp;security&nbsp;post&nbsp;at the entrance but did not breach the main compound.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/protesters-storm-us-embassy-compound-in-baghdad-271300/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

&nbsp;

The&nbsp;Pentagon&nbsp;said that in addition to Marines sent to protect&nbsp;embassy&nbsp;personnel, about 750 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division were being sent to the Middle East and that&nbsp;additional&nbsp;troops&nbsp;were prepared to deploy over the next several days.

"This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against&nbsp;US&nbsp;personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today,"&nbsp;US&nbsp;Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement.

US&nbsp;officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the 750&nbsp;troops&nbsp;would initially be based out of Kuwait. The officials said that as many as 4,000&nbsp;troops&nbsp;could be sent to the&nbsp;region&nbsp;in the coming days if needed.

<img alt="Iraq" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="299bcfa9-b50b-472b-b1cb-dcf591fb50d4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2838%29_2.jpg" />

More than 5,000&nbsp;US&nbsp;troops&nbsp;are stationed in&nbsp;Iraq&nbsp;supporting local forces.

The unprecedented attack on an American diplomatic mission in&nbsp;Iraq&nbsp;marked a sharp escalation of the proxy conflict between the United States and Iran both influential players in the country - and plunged&nbsp;US&nbsp;relations with&nbsp;Iraq&nbsp;to their worst level in years.

The United States and its allies invaded&nbsp;Iraq&nbsp;in 2003 and ousted Saddam Hussein. But political stability has been elusive.

Trump, on a two-week working vacation in Palm Beach, Florida, spoke by phone to&nbsp;Iraqi Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraq-parliament-approves-resignation-of-prime-minister-mahdi-265661">Adel Abdul Mahdi</a> of&nbsp;Iraq. "President Trump emphasized the need to protect United States personnel and facilities in&nbsp;Iraq," the White House said.

Trump accused Iran of orchestrating the violence.

"Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat," Trump said in a tweet.

Iran, under severe economic duress from punishing&nbsp;US&nbsp;sanctions put in place by Trump, denied responsibility.

"America has the surprising audacity of attributing to Iran the protests of the&nbsp;Iraqi people against (Washington's) savage killing of at least 25&nbsp;Iraqis," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.

<img alt="Iraq" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="af442d77-60db-4b16-ab9a-673479b4affa" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2836%29_6.jpg" />

The&nbsp;embassy&nbsp;incident came seven years after the 2012 attack by armed militants on the&nbsp;US&nbsp;diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, that resulted in the death of the&nbsp;US&nbsp;ambassador and three other Americans and led to multiple congressional investigations.

The protests followed&nbsp;US&nbsp;airstrikes on Sunday on bases operated by the Iranian-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah inside&nbsp;Iraq, which killed at least 25 fighters and wounded 55. The strikes were retaliation for the killing of a&nbsp;US&nbsp;civilian contractor in a rocket attack on an&nbsp;Iraqi military base, which Washington blamed on Kataib Hezbollah.

"Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will," Trump said in a tweet. "Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the&nbsp;US&nbsp;Embassy&nbsp;in&nbsp;Iraq. They will be held fully responsible."

Democrats&nbsp;upset that Trump ditched the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by Democratic President Barack Obama in 2015 were quick to pounce on the incident as a failure of Trump's Iran policy.

"The predictable result of the Trump administration’s reckless bluster, escalation, and miscalculation in the Middle East is that we are now hurtling closer to an unauthorized war with Iran that the American people do not support," said&nbsp;US&nbsp;Senator Tom Udall, a Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The&nbsp;protesters joined briefly by Iranian-backed Shi'ite Muslim militia leaders, threw stones at the&nbsp;embassy&nbsp;gate, while others chanted: "No, no, America! No, no, Trump!"

<img alt="Iraq" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="66f91c45-4f5c-40f4-9543-f97112bb0baf" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2840%29_0.jpg" />

Iraqi special forces prevented&nbsp;protesters&nbsp;entering, later reinforced by&nbsp;US-trained&nbsp;Iraqi Counter-Terrorism forces.

The&nbsp;embassy&nbsp;has been hit by sporadic but non-lethal rocket fire in recent months, and was regularly shelled following the&nbsp;US-led invasion of 2003, but had not been physically attacked by demonstrators in that way before.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-mike-pompeo-to-meet-ukraines-president-volodymyr-zelenskiy-on-friday-271101">Mike Pompeo</a> told CBS News that&nbsp;US&nbsp;officials never contemplated evacuating the&nbsp;embassy&nbsp;and had kept the heat on&nbsp;Iraqi officials to ensure the compound was safe.

"We reminded them throughout the day of their continued responsibility," he said.

The Popular Mobilisation Forces, an umbrella grouping of the militias that have been officially integrated into&nbsp;Iraq's armed forces, said 62 militiamen and civilians were wounded by the tear gas and stun grenades fired to disperse the crowd.

A Reuters witness saw blood on the face of one wounded militiaman and on the stomach of the other as their colleagues&nbsp;carried them away.

Iraqis have been taking to the streets in the thousands almost daily to condemn, among other things, militias such as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iraq-pm-kataib-hezbollah-condemns-us-airstrikes-271203">Kataib Hezbollah</a> and their Iranian patrons that support Abdul Mahdi's government.

Kataib Hezbollah is one of the smallest but most potent of the Iranian-backed militias. Its flags were hung on the fence surrounding the&nbsp;embassy.

Protesters angry about US airstrikes on Iraq hurled stones and torched a security post at the US Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday, setting off a confrontation with guards and prompting the United States to send additional troops to the Middle East.

Protesters angry about US airstrikes on Iraq hurled stones and torched a security post at the US Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday, setting off a confrontation with guards and prompting the United States to send additional troops to the Middle East. The protests, led by Iranian-backed militias, posed a new foreign policy challenge for US President Donald Trump, who faces re-election in 2020. He threatened to retaliate against Iran. The State Department said diplomatic personnel inside were safe and there were no plans to evacuate them. Embassy guards used stun grenades and tear gas to repel protesters, who stormed and burned the security post at the entrance but did not breach the main compound. The Pentagon said that in addition to Marines sent to protect embassy personnel, about 750 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division were being sent to the Middle East and that additional troops were prepared to deploy over the next several days. "This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against US personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today," US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement. US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the 750 troops would initially be based out of Kuwait. The officials said that as many as 4,000 troops could be sent to the region in the coming days if needed. More than 5,000 US troops are stationed in Iraq supporting local forces. The unprecedented attack on an American diplomatic mission in Iraq marked a sharp escalation of the proxy conflict between the United States and Iran both influential players in the country - and plunged US relations with Iraq to their worst level in years. The United States and its allies invaded Iraq in 2003 and ousted Saddam Hussein. But political stability has been elusive. Trump, on a two-week working vacation in Palm Beach, Florida, spoke by phone to Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi of Iraq. "President Trump emphasized the need to protect United States personnel and facilities in Iraq," the White House said. Trump accused Iran of orchestrating the violence. "Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat," Trump said in a tweet. Iran, under severe economic duress from punishing US sanctions put in place by Trump, denied responsibility. "America has the surprising audacity of attributing to Iran the protests of the Iraqi people against (Washington's) savage killing of at least 25 Iraqis," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said. The embassy incident came seven years after the 2012 attack by armed militants on the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, that resulted in the death of the US ambassador and three other Americans and led to multiple congressional investigations. The protests followed US airstrikes on Sunday on bases operated by the Iranian-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah inside Iraq, which killed at least 25 fighters and wounded 55. The strikes were retaliation for the killing of a US civilian contractor in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base, which Washington blamed on Kataib Hezbollah. "Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will," Trump said in a tweet. "Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the US Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible." Democrats upset that Trump ditched the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by Democratic President Barack Obama in 2015 were quick to pounce on the incident as a failure of Trump's Iran policy. "The predictable result of the Trump administration’s reckless bluster, escalation, and miscalculation in the Middle East is that we are now hurtling closer to an unauthorized war with Iran that the American people do not support," said US Senator Tom Udall, a Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The protesters joined briefly by Iranian-backed Shi'ite Muslim militia leaders, threw stones at the embassy gate, while others chanted: "No, no, America! No, no, Trump!" Iraqi special forces prevented protesters entering, later reinforced by US-trained Iraqi Counter-Terrorism forces. The embassy has been hit by sporadic but non-lethal rocket fire in recent months, and was regularly shelled following the US-led invasion of 2003, but had not been physically attacked by demonstrators in that way before. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told CBS News that US officials never contemplated evacuating the embassy and had kept the heat on Iraqi officials to ensure the compound was safe. "We reminded them throughout the day of their continued responsibility," he said. The Popular Mobilisation Forces, an umbrella grouping of the militias that have been officially integrated into Iraq's armed forces, said 62 militiamen and civilians were wounded by the tear gas and stun grenades fired to disperse the crowd. A Reuters witness saw blood on the face of one wounded militiaman and on the stomach of the other as their colleagues carried them away. Iraqis have been taking to the streets in the thousands almost daily to condemn, among other things, militias such as Kataib Hezbollah and their Iranian patrons that support Abdul Mahdi's government. Kataib Hezbollah is one of the smallest but most potent of the Iranian-backed militias. Its flags were hung on the fence surrounding the embassy.

Protesters burn security post at US Embassy in Iraq; Pentagon sending additional troops to region

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/oil-prices-tumble-ahead-of-opec-meeting-global-stocks-fall-265363">Oil&nbsp;prices</a>&nbsp;held&nbsp;steady&nbsp;on the final day of the year on Tuesday, heading for their&nbsp;biggest&nbsp;annual&nbsp;rise&nbsp;since&nbsp;2016, supported by a thaw in the prolonged <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/us-china-trade-talks-free-trade-must-not-be-derailed-198923">US-China trade</a> dispute and supply cuts.

Brent crude futures for March delivery, the new front-month contract, were at $66.66 a barrel, down 1 cent, by 0258 GMT. Brent for February delivery closed on Monday at $68.44 .

US&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/crude-oil-prices-fall-1-on-fears-for-global-economy-233148">West Texas Intermediate</a> (WTI) crude for February was down 3 cents at $61.65.

Brent has gained about 24 per cent&nbsp;in 2019 and WTI has&nbsp;risen roughly 36 per cent. Both benchmarks are set for their&nbsp;biggest&nbsp;yearly&nbsp;gain in three years, backed by a breakthrough in US-China trade talks and output cuts pledged by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/opec-gearing-up-for-deeper-oil-cuts-russia-yet-to-agree-266198">OPEC</a>) and its allies.

The White House's trade adviser said on Monday that the US-China Phase 1 trade deal would likely be signed in the next week.

"Oil&nbsp;prices&nbsp;have followed the general de-risking drift into year-end despite a&nbsp;rise&nbsp;in Middle East tensions and last week's bullish-for-oil-price inventory draws as the broader markets appear to be losing some of that holiday cheer," said Stephen Innes, chief Asia market strategist at AxiTrader.

Tensions remain high in the Middle East after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-airstrikes-kill-25-pro-iran-militia-fighters-in-iraq-and-syria-triggering-anger-271052">US&nbsp;airstrikes</a> on Sunday against the Katib Hezbollah militia group in Iraq and Syria. Operations resumed at Iraq's Nassiriya&nbsp;oilfield resumed on Monday after protesters briefly halted production.

Looking ahead, US&nbsp;crude inventories are expected to fall by about 3.2 million barrels in the week to December 27, heading for a third consecutive weekly fall, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday. US&nbsp;stockpiles fell by 5.5 million barrels in the week to December&nbsp;20. The figures will be released on Friday.

Innes said traders would also closely watch the EIA's US&nbsp;October crude production figures, set to come out later on Tuesday.

"It's expected to show robust continuous growth in the agency's short-term outlook," he said.

The United States is on&nbsp;track&nbsp;to become a net petroleum exporter on an annual basis for the first time in 2020, with output expected to&nbsp;rise&nbsp;by 930,000 barrels per day (bpd) to a record of 13.18 million bpd next year, the EIA said earlier this month.

Brokers and analysts expect growing US&nbsp;supplies to offset cuts from OPEC in 2020 amid sluggish worldwide demand, weighing on&nbsp;oil&nbsp;prices.

"Oil&nbsp;prices, though largely expected to trade positive, will face headwinds from subdued global growth momentum and robust US&nbsp;shale output levels in the first quarter," said Benjamin Lu, analyst at Singapore-based brokerage Phillip Futures.

Oil prices held steady on the final day of the year on Tuesday, heading for their biggest annual rise since 2016, supported by a thaw in the prolonged US-China trade dispute and supply cuts.

Oil prices held steady on the final day of the year on Tuesday, heading for their biggest annual rise since 2016, supported by a thaw in the prolonged US-China trade dispute and supply cuts. Brent crude futures for March delivery, the new front-month contract, were at $66.66 a barrel, down 1 cent, by 0258 GMT. Brent for February delivery closed on Monday at $68.44 . US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for February was down 3 cents at $61.65. Brent has gained about 24 per cent in 2019 and WTI has risen roughly 36 per cent. Both benchmarks are set for their biggest yearly gain in three years, backed by a breakthrough in US-China trade talks and output cuts pledged by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies. The White House's trade adviser said on Monday that the US-China Phase 1 trade deal would likely be signed in the next week. "Oil prices have followed the general de-risking drift into year-end despite a rise in Middle East tensions and last week's bullish-for-oil-price inventory draws as the broader markets appear to be losing some of that holiday cheer," said Stephen Innes, chief Asia market strategist at AxiTrader. Tensions remain high in the Middle East after US airstrikes on Sunday against the Katib Hezbollah militia group in Iraq and Syria. Operations resumed at Iraq's Nassiriya oilfield resumed on Monday after protesters briefly halted production. Looking ahead, US crude inventories are expected to fall by about 3.2 million barrels in the week to December 27, heading for a third consecutive weekly fall, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday. US stockpiles fell by 5.5 million barrels in the week to December 20. The figures will be released on Friday. Innes said traders would also closely watch the EIA's US October crude production figures, set to come out later on Tuesday. "It's expected to show robust continuous growth in the agency's short-term outlook," he said. The United States is on track to become a net petroleum exporter on an annual basis for the first time in 2020, with output expected to rise by 930,000 barrels per day (bpd) to a record of 13.18 million bpd next year, the EIA said earlier this month. Brokers and analysts expect growing US supplies to offset cuts from OPEC in 2020 amid sluggish worldwide demand, weighing on oil prices. "Oil prices, though largely expected to trade positive, will face headwinds from subdued global growth momentum and robust US shale output levels in the first quarter," said Benjamin Lu, analyst at Singapore-based brokerage Phillip Futures.

Oil prices steady, on track for biggest yearly rise since 2016

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/oil-prices-tumble-ahead-of-opec-meeting-global-stocks-fall-265363">Oil prices</a> traded at three-month highs on Monday, underpinned by optimism over an expected <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/gold-prices-steady-as-us-china-trade-deal-doubts-linger-263135">US-China trade deal</a>, while traders kept a close eye on the Middle East following a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-airstrike-kills-25-is-terrorists-in-afghanistan-32150">US&nbsp;airstrike</a>.

Markets showed little initial reaction to news of the US&nbsp;strikes in Iraq and Syria against an Iran-backed militia group, even as US&nbsp;officials warned "additional actions" may be taken.

West Texas Intermediate (<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/crude-oil-prices-fall-1-on-fears-for-global-economy-233148">WTI</a>) crude futures edged up 5 cents to $61.77 a barrel by 0529 GMT. The US&nbsp;benchmark is up about 36&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;so far this year.

Brent crude futures were at $68.36 a barrel, up 20 cents, or 0.3 per cent. The international benchmark has risen around 27 per cent&nbsp;in 2019.

"(Trading) has been relatively flat due to lack of market participants in the holiday season," said market analyst Margaret Yang of CMC Markets.

"Oil prices have reached their highest level since the Saudi oil field attack in Mid Sep, and thus traders are also cautious about profit-taking possibilities," she added.

On Sunday, China's Commerce Ministry said it is in close touch with the United States on the signing of a long-awaited trade deal.

The two countries on December&nbsp;13 announced a "Phase one" agreement that reduces some US&nbsp;tariffs in exchange for what US&nbsp;officials said would be a big jump in Chinese purchases of American farm products and other goods.

Oil prices were also supported by declining US&nbsp;crude stocks which fell by 5.5 million barrels in the week to December&nbsp;20, far exceeding a 1.7-million-barrel drop forecast in a Reuters poll.

In the Middle East, the United States carried out air strikes on Sunday in Iraq and Syria against the Kataib Hezbollah militia group, while protesters in Iraq on Saturday forced the closure of its southern Nassiriya oilfield.

US&nbsp;officials said the air strikes in response to the killing of a US&nbsp;civilian contractor in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base were successful but warned that "additional actions" may still be taken.

Iraq's oil ministry said the production halt at the Nassiriya oilfield will not affect the country's exports as it will use the additional output from southern oilfields in Basra.

Elsewhere, Libyan state oil firm NOC said it is considering the closure of its western Zawiya port and evacuating staff from the refinery located there due to clashes nearby.

However, the holiday season meant "oil will continue to struggle for meaningful moves," said Edward Moya, analyst at brokerage OANDA.

Oil prices traded at three-month highs on Monday, underpinned by optimism over an expected US-China trade deal, while traders kept a close eye on the Middle East following a US airstrike.

Oil prices traded at three-month highs on Monday, underpinned by optimism over an expected US-China trade deal, while traders kept a close eye on the Middle East following a US airstrike. Markets showed little initial reaction to news of the US strikes in Iraq and Syria against an Iran-backed militia group, even as US officials warned "additional actions" may be taken. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures edged up 5 cents to $61.77 a barrel by 0529 GMT. The US benchmark is up about 36 per cent so far this year. Brent crude futures were at $68.36 a barrel, up 20 cents, or 0.3 per cent. The international benchmark has risen around 27 per cent in 2019. "(Trading) has been relatively flat due to lack of market participants in the holiday season," said market analyst Margaret Yang of CMC Markets. "Oil prices have reached their highest level since the Saudi oil field attack in Mid Sep, and thus traders are also cautious about profit-taking possibilities," she added. On Sunday, China's Commerce Ministry said it is in close touch with the United States on the signing of a long-awaited trade deal. The two countries on December 13 announced a "Phase one" agreement that reduces some US tariffs in exchange for what US officials said would be a big jump in Chinese purchases of American farm products and other goods. Oil prices were also supported by declining US crude stocks which fell by 5.5 million barrels in the week to December 20, far exceeding a 1.7-million-barrel drop forecast in a Reuters poll. In the Middle East, the United States carried out air strikes on Sunday in Iraq and Syria against the Kataib Hezbollah militia group, while protesters in Iraq on Saturday forced the closure of its southern Nassiriya oilfield. US officials said the air strikes in response to the killing of a US civilian contractor in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base were successful but warned that "additional actions" may still be taken. Iraq's oil ministry said the production halt at the Nassiriya oilfield will not affect the country's exports as it will use the additional output from southern oilfields in Basra. Elsewhere, Libyan state oil firm NOC said it is considering the closure of its western Zawiya port and evacuating staff from the refinery located there due to clashes nearby. However, the holiday season meant "oil will continue to struggle for meaningful moves," said Edward Moya, analyst at brokerage OANDA.

Oil edges up on trade optimism, eyes on Middle East tensions

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Protesters burn security post at US Embassy in Iraq; Pentagon sending additional troops to region

Oil prices steady, on track for biggest yearly rise since 2016

Oil edges up on trade optimism, eyes on Middle East tensions