To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

US President Donald Trump has ordered some 750 American soldiers be deployed to the Middle East, with about 3,000 more prepared for possible deployment in the next several days following an attack on the US embassy compound in Iraq.

Mr Trump said that Iran was ‘fully responsible’ for the attack in which no US casualties or evacuations were reported.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Tuesday night that ‘in response to recent events’ in Iraq, and at Mr Trump’s direction, he had authorised the immediate deployment of the infantry battalion from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.



Mr Esper did not specify the soldiers’ destination, but a US official familiar with the decision said they will go to Kuwait.


‘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,’ Mr Esper said in a written statement.

A helicopter launched flares as a display of presence while moving troops in to deter protesters (Picture: AP)

The helicopter is an AH-64 Apache helicopter from 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 34th Combat Aviation Brigade (Picture: AP)

Hundreds of people gathered at the embassy yesterday (Picture: Rex Shutterstock)

Additional soldiers from the 82nd Airborne’s quick-deployment brigade, known officially as its Immediate Response Force, were prepared to deploy, Mr Esper said.

The US official, who provided unreleased details on condition of anonymity, said the full brigade of some 4,000 soldiers may deploy.

The breach of the embassy compound in Baghdad on Tuesday revealed growing strains between the US and Iran, raising questions about the future of Washington’s military mission there.

Mr Trump tweeted on Tuesday afternoon: ‘They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!’

American airstrikes on Sunday killed 25 fighters of an Iran-backed militia in Iraq, the Kataeb Hezbollah.

Map showing the size of the compound

The Green Zone in Iraq where the US Embassy is based

Tear gas was fired at protesters who made it into the US compound (Picture: AP)

The US said those strikes were in retaliation for last week’s killing of an American contractor and the wounding of American and Iraqi troops in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base that the US blamed on the militia.

The American strikes angered the Iraqi government, which called them an unjustified violation of its sovereignty.

‘Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many,’ Mr Trump tweeted from his estate in Florida.

‘We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!’

A fire was started at the US embassy in Baghdad after the compound came under attack (Picture: AP)

Mr Trump said that Iran was ‘fully responsible’ for the attack (Picture: AP)

Mr Esper did not specify the soldiers’ destination, but a source said they will go to Kuwait (Picture: Getty)