Protesters try to storm Baghdad zone housing US embassy

Hundreds of Iraqis, many dressed in black, attempted Sunday to storm Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, where the U.S. embassy is located, after the killing of Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

Ali, a masked protester, told AFP, "The martyrdom of Sayyed Ali Khamenei has hurt us."

"We are here because we want the withdrawal of the occupying American forces from Iraq."

AFP journalists near the Green Zone reported a heavy security deployment and the closure of the zone's entrance, but protesters kept trying to break in.

Protesters, who had gathered since early Sunday, hurled stones at security forces, who responded with tear gas.

A security source told AFP earlier that "their attempts have been thwarted so far, but they keep trying."

An AFP journalist said protesters, some holding flags of pro-Iran armed groups, cursed the security forces and chanted "for you Khamenei."

Hussein, a protester in his 20s, said, "We are here to respond to Khamenei's martyrdom, and I want us to fight the U.S. and Israel."

Khamenei was killed on Saturday as the United States and Israel launched a wave of strikes on the Islamic Republic.

Like the U.S., Iran wields significant influence in Iraqi politics, while also backing armed groups whose power has grown both politically and financially.

Several Iran-backed Iraqi armed groups said Saturday they would not remain "neutral" and would defend the Islamic republic.

The powerful group Kataeb Hezbollah said it would attack U.S. bases after two of its fighters were killed in air strikes in southern Iraq.

Early Sunday, loud explosions were heard near Erbil airport in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, which hosts U.S.-led coalition troops, an AFP journalist said.