The U.S. ambassador and other personnel have been evacuated from the embassy in Baghdad as demonstrations erupt outside.

Thousands of demonstrators and militia fighters rallied on Tuesday outside the central entrance of the U.S. embassy compound in Baghdad to denounce airstrikes on bases belonging to an Iranian-backed militia in Iraq.

The U.S. military conducted out airstrikes on Sunday against the Kataib Hezbollah militia group in response to the killing of a U.S. civilian contractor in a missile assault on an Iraqi military base, officials said.

The airstrikes killed 25 militia fighters and injured 55 others,affirmed Iraqi security and militia sources.