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63-528: Camp Ashraf (aka FOB Grizzly ) is situated 96 kilometers (59 mi) north of Baghdad near the town of Al Khalis . On January 1, 2009, United States formally transferred control over to the Iraqi government. From 2003 to 2013, Camp Ashraf was attacked several times, the worst being on April 8, 2011 when the Iraqi Army raided the camp and killed as many as 34 people and wounded 318 more. On September 1, 2013, an attack

126-554: A ceasefire in April–May 2003, on the basis of which the group relinquished its weapons, including tanks, armored vehicles, and heavy artillery. Subsequently, different US agencies investigated Camp Ashraf residents, and saw no basis for trying any of the residents for acts of terrorism. Consequently, Coalition forces granted residents of Camp Ashraf protected status as civilians under the Fourth Geneva Convention . Adjoining

189-458: A former Palace of Saddam Hussein . The embassy complex cost US$ 750 million to build and reached a peak staffing of 16,000 employees and contractors in 2012. The U.S. thereafter embarked on a major personnel reduction that reduced the total staffing to 11,500 in January 2013 and to 5,500 by 2014. Total headcount was reduced to 486 by late 2019 and 349 by mid-2020. On 31 December 2019, the embassy

252-560: A legation in Baghdad. The legation was upgraded to an embassy in 1946. A new building was designed by Josep Lluís Sert in 1955 and completed in 1957, with its main priority on keeping the building cool rather than to ensure security. This building remained the embassy until the Six-Day War of 1967, when many Arab countries broke off diplomatic relations with the United States. In 1972,

315-517: A "massive" upgrade to the embassy compound in 2012. As of 2006, construction was being led by the Kuwaiti firm First Kuwaiti Trading & Contracting . The embassy has extensive housing and infrastructure facilities in addition to the usual diplomatic buildings. The buildings include: The complex is heavily fortified, even by the standards of the Green Zone. The details are largely secret, but it

378-636: A February 2012 Congressional Research Service report. The biggest program underway was the much-delayed sale of 18 Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters. On May 15, 2019, the United States Department of State ordered all non-emergency, non-essential government employees at the Embassy and Erbil consulate office to leave Iraq amid heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf between

441-544: A fortress of Iranian resistance should come to an end. On Sept. 28, 2011, the EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton appointed Ambassador Jean De Ruyt, a senior Belgian diplomat, as an advisor to advise on the EU response and to better the humanitarian situation in the camp. In the meantime, Maryam Rajavi , head of the People's Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK), called for the new nominee to visit Ashraf and to demand Iraq drop its bid to close

504-699: A life outside of Iraq. This policy of Martin Kobler stood in contrast with the opinion of the competent body inside the UN, i.e. the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of the UN Human Rights Council, who had categorized, in his Opinion of May 2012, the status of the MEK residents in both Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty as Arbitrary detention and called the Iraqi government for the "immediate release and lifting of all restraints upon

567-411: A modern city with a complex of roads and buildings with many educational, social, medical, and sports facilities, manufacturing and agricultural works, and even a university. Some people that defected from the MEK have made allegations of sexual assault. However, the MEK and Col. Leo McCloskey (former JIATF commander at Camp Ashraf) have denied these claims, calling them part of a misinformation campaign by

630-419: A new base for the 5,500 Americans currently living and working in Baghdad. During construction, the U.S. government kept many aspects of the project under wraps, with many details released only in a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee report. Apart from the 1,000 regular employees, up to 3,000 additional staff members have been hired, including security personnel. With construction beginning in mid-2005,

693-465: A police station without the consent of the MEK. Accounts of the conflict differ. Some sources say Iraqi forces used violence, including gunfire, water cannons, and batons, killing eleven people and injuring about 400; two others later died from their wounds. Videos by Ashraf residents purportedly show these scenes. Iraqi authorities denied using violent methods but said residents used stones, knives, and sharp tools to fight security forces that tried to enter

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756-486: A rocket and mortar attack leaving at least five dead and 40 wounded occurred at Camp Liberty on February 9, 2013. Iranian residents of Camp Liberty and their representatives and lawyers appealed to the UN Secretary-General and U.S. officials to let them return to Ashraf, which they say has concrete buildings and shelters that offer more protection. On Sept. 1, 2013, 52 MEK members were killed at Camp Ashraf, in what

819-580: A time, in a safe, UN "blue-helmets" protected place, then transferring them step by step to countries of safety. It was openly rejected by the Government of Iraq, and did not find enough support from the UN and the US. As a consequence of the April 8, 2011 attacks, UNAMI tried, between May and September 2011, to find a humanitarian solution via official bilateral meetings with Camp Ashraf resident's speakers respectively with

882-605: A tour to Iraq, the Iraq delegation of the European Parliament , led by the British Conservative Struan Stevenson , was refused by the Government of Iraq to visit Camp Ashraf; it nevertheless issued a statement that it was in favour of a resettlement of the residents to safe third countries. This "Stevenson plan" envisaged registration of the residents by UNHCR as asylum seekers by groups of up to 500 persons at

945-499: Is about 2.5 times the size of the Embassy of the United States, Beirut , which is the second-largest U.S. diplomatic mission abroad, as well as over three times the size of the Embassy of the United States, Islamabad , which is the third-largest U.S. diplomatic mission abroad. The embassy opened in January 2009 following a series of construction delays. It replaced the previous embassy, which opened July 1, 2004 in Baghdad's Green Zone in

1008-498: Is likely to include a significant US Marine Security Guard detachment. Fortifications include deep security perimeters, buildings reinforced beyond the usual standard, and five highly guarded entrances. On October 5, 2007, the Associated Press reported the initial target completion date of September would not be met, and that it was unlikely any buildings would be occupied until 2008. In May 2008, US diplomats began moving into

1071-495: Is no free movement and within the camp as well, rendering residents as detainees or prisoners. Furthermore, Martin Kobler had commissioned a report from a UNHCR shelter management expert, Martin Zirn, expecting him to certify that the foreseen location, Camp Liberty was matching international standards. However, the resulting draft report stated that the UNHCR cannot "certify and/or verify that

1134-474: The 1993 presidential election . During the 2003 US invasion of Iraq , Coalition forces launched air attacks against PMOI/MEK forces. Reports indicated that Coalition attacks had been planned well in advance as part of a purported agreement whereby Iran agreed to support US efforts as long as the US-supported Iran's initiative to destroy Camp Ashraf and its well -armed residents. MEK commanders negotiated

1197-612: The Republican Palace . The embassy planned to hire 900–1,000 permanent American employees under mission authority, along with 300-400 staff under military command and an additional 600-700 Iraqi staff by the end of 2004. A new complex for the embassy was constructed along the Tigris River , west of the Arbataash Tamuz Bridge , and facing Al-Kindi street to the north. The embassy is a permanent structure which has provided

1260-547: The Government of Iraq. In the course of this process, the residents acknowledged that to become asylum seekers and the involvement of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was an option for them, with the ultimate target of a safe relocation to third countries; they expressed however high concern over plans for relocation into a transitional facility inside Iraq, as they would become even more vulnerable to armed attacks than in their current city-like settlement. Under

1323-518: The Human Rights Office, it ensured regular visits to the camp for monitoring human rights and as a deterrent against violence. In October 2009, in the frame of UNAMI's mediation, the Government of Iraq announced they would close Camp Ashraf, while the residents responded that neither remaining in Iraq nor returning to Iran were safe options for them; they said to be prepared to move to safe third countries as soon as this become possible and asked for

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1386-571: The Iranian authorities took new suppressive measures for espionage against Ashraf residents by installing two tall communication poles south of Camp Ashraf, preparing the grounds for the next attacks. The Iraqi government said that the PMOI must leave the country by the end of 2011. The Central Investigation Court No 4 of the Spanish National Court, in face of the impossibility of any investigation into

1449-437: The Iranian government. The Iraqi government, however, stated it believed that the event was a "riot". According to Amnesty International, video clips of the April 8 clashes "appear to show Iraqi soldiers indiscriminately firing into the crowds and using vehicles to try and run others down". As a conclusion, it was confirmed by a UN human rights official, 34 residents were killed and 318 wounded by Iraqi forces. During Summer 2011,

1512-531: The Iranian regime. Even after the cease-fire with Iran, the Iranian Air Force carried out several air raids against Ashraf. The first of such raids was conducted using eight F-4 Phantoms armed with rockets and cluster bombs on 6 April 1992. During this raid, one F-4 was shot down by either insurgent or Iraqi military anti-aircraft artillery and both pilots (Lt. Col Amini and Cpt. Sharifi) were captured and not freed until 1998. Despite threats of response, Iraq

1575-496: The Iraqi Premier Minister's Office in cooperation with the Iranian embassy in Iraq arranged so-called "family visits" of some Iranian government-operated NGOs to destabilize Camp Ashraf. Assisted by the Iraqi army, they set up camp at the gate and fixed loudspeakers around the camp. over a period of two years, there were around 300 units "blaring threats and insults day and night at the residents". In his quarterly report to

1638-547: The Iraqi government calling for the protection and relief of the seven abducted hostages. As of early February 2015, the camp was the base of the Badr Organization during its successful operation to liberate Diyala Governorate from Islamic State control. 34°03′49″N 44°34′24″E  /  34.06361°N 44.57333°E  / 34.06361; 44.57333 Forward Operating Base Grizzly FOB Grizzly (formerly FOB Spartan, FOB Red Lion and FOB Barbarian)

1701-554: The Iraqi government. According to a press release from U.S. Embassy in Baghdad , the U.S. would maintain a military presence at the camp and the Iraqi government would ensure that all residents were treated according to Iraqi law. A State Department spokesman said the Government of Iraq had promised both humane treatment of people at Camp Ashraf and that none would be relocated to a country where they would have "a well-founded fear of persecution". In late July 2009 conflict erupted when Iraqi forces attempted to enter camp Ashraf to establish

1764-622: The Masbah section of the city, on the east bank of the Tigris and opposite the Foreign Ministry Club. The U.S. Interests Section was again upgraded to an embassy in 1984 after the resumption of U.S.–Iraqi diplomatic relations . The building lost its embassy status just before the Gulf War in 1991, which caused a second breach of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The U.S. Interests Section

1827-470: The People's Mojahedeen Organization of Iran (PMOI), an Iranian opposition group had been under US military control since 2003. ... Video footage showed Iraqi security forces deliberately driving military vehicles into crowds of protesting camp residents. The security forces also used live ammunition, apparently killing at least nine camp residents, and detained 36 others who they tortured". The failure to relocate

1890-688: The Security Council of 14 May 2010 pursuant to resolution 1883, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the rights of residents of Camp Ashraf, to protection against arbitrary displacement in Iraq or forced extradition to Iran. Brian Binley , a Member of Parliament from the United Kingdom's Conservative Party, also asked for protection of Ashraf. On 17 October 2010, on the eve of al-Maliki's visit to Tehran, an armed attack by Iraqi forces took place, injuring 10 residents. On January 7, 2011, assailants bussed from Basra, Amara, Nasiriya, and Baghdad to

1953-435: The United States and Iran . On December 31, 2019, thousands of demonstrators attacked the embassy and breached the outside walls in response to an airstrike that killed 25 on December 27. President Donald Trump blamed Iran for the embassy attack and deployed 750 troops to Baghdad. On January 26, 2020, the embassy was struck by three rockets. One of the rockets struck a cafeteria. The United States urged Iraq to protect

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2016-542: The United States, Baghdad The Embassy of the United States of America in Baghdad ( Arabic : سفارة الولايات المتحدة، بغداد ) is the diplomatic mission of the United States of America in the Republic of Iraq . Ambassador Alina Romanowski is currently the chief of mission . At 104 acres (42 ha), it is the largest U.S. diplomatic mission compound; nearly equal in area size to the Vatican City . The embassy complex

2079-595: The above location meets Humanitarian Standards", "bearing in mind that these are thought for Refugees in Emergencies". In fact, the shelter expert considered Camp Ashraf a community that was facing eviction from a site where they had lived for over 26 years, which is different from a situation of emergencies like a civil war or a natural disaster. The concerns voiced by opponents to Martin Kobler's policy claiming Camp Ashraf residents would be safer were later confirmed. For example, amongst other deadly or life-threatening events,

2142-493: The camp by the end of 2011. In August 2011, Ad Melkert was replaced by Martin Kobler as UNAMI Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General. Following a unilateral interpretation made by Premier Minister al-Maliki at the farewell meeting of 28 August 2011, Ad Melkert reiterated that the UN "continues to advocate that Camp Ashraf residents be protected from forcible deportation, expulsion or repatriation contrary to

2205-446: The camp residents prompted the "Ashrafi Committee", an ad-hoc group of Premier Minister al-Maliki's office, to tighten the embargo on Camp Ashraf. From January 2010 onwards, despite the attempts of UNAMI for the protection of human rights, fuel deliveries, water, and food supply were severely reduced, resident's vehicles were seized, and medical assistance and resident's access to hospital treatment and surgery were denied. In Spring 2010,

2268-446: The camp to leave the camp. They used loudspeakers and distributed pamphlets calling the residents to join them and leave Ashraf. However, no resident accepted to leave. Media reporters were present on the scene. The UN issued a statement "exiled camp residents must not be deported". UNAMI, led by the UN envoy Ad Melkert disputed Nouri al-Maliki's claim, saying that UN would not embrace the government's efforts to deport Ashraf residents by

2331-607: The camp was Forward Operating Base Grizzly (formerly FOB Spartan, FOB Red Lion, FOB Gator, FOB Barbarian). The forward operating base is where US and Coalition forces used to reside and were involved in a humanitarian mission designed to oversee control of the camp. During the period that it protected the PMOI/MEK in Iraq—from April 2003 until January 2009—the US Army was confronted with almost 600 disillusioned members who wanted to leave

2394-592: The camp. Journalists were excluded from the area. Video footage surfaced purportedly showing Iraqi forces trying to repeatedly run down residents with vehicles. In September 2009, in accordance with their mandate, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), led by Ad Melkert , Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, started attempts for mediation between the residents and premier minister Al-Maliki's office. Additionally, as reported by UNAMI issue leader Tahar Boumedra, Chief of

2457-535: The deaths were caused by infighting among the camp's residents. Officials stated that after the incident, MKO members attacked the local army brigade stationed in the camp and killed 4 Iraqi soldiers. In September and October 2013 letters and messages to President Obama, Senators John McCain, Carl Levin, and others, called for US pressure on President al-Maliki to "hold Iraq accountable for the massacre at Camp Ashraf and to save seven abducted residents". On September 11, 2013, Amnesty International launched an urgent action to

2520-590: The embassy became the U.S. Interests Section (USINT) of the Belgian Embassy to Iraq, as Belgium was the protecting power for the United States presence in Iraq. USINT, however, was not housed in the building the Embassy had occupied prior to 1967, as that building had been taken over and made into the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. USINT was housed in what had earlier been the Romanian Embassy building, in

2583-478: The embassy. The embassy formally opened over a year behind schedule in January 2009 with a staff of over 16,000 people, mostly contractors, but including 2,000 diplomats. In February 2012, weeks after the final departure of US Military forces from Iraq, the State Department announced that the staff would be greatly reduced because of budget concerns and a re-evaluation of diplomatic strategy in Iraq, in light of

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2646-643: The end of 2011. Instead, as brought forward by the UNAMI issue leader Tahar Boumedra, all parties should be engaged: the Iraqi government for building civilian camp management capacities in line with international humanitarian standards, the PMOI for achieving a more realistic understanding of their reality, and the international diplomatic community. In a 2010 report, Amnesty International said that "Following months of rising tension, Iraqi security forces forcibly entered and took control of Camp Ashraf ... on 28 and 29 July. The camp, which houses some 3400 members or supporters of

2709-422: The free movements of these persons". This same UN body had reiterated and extended his vote in his Opinion of August 2012, calling for triggering the relevant human rights mechanisms instead of relocation, and had reconfirmed that the conditions in the new location, Camp Liberty "are synonymous with that of a detention centre as there is no possibility of freedom and interaction with the outside world" and that "there

2772-505: The gates of the Camp. This was jointly coordinated by the "Ashraf Committee" of al-Maliki's office with the Iranian embassy in Baghdad and backed up by Iraqi security forces. The assailants attacked the camp resulting in 176 wounded. Iraqi forces prevented the wounded, 93 of whom were women, to go to the hospital for treatment. On April 8, 2011, Iraqi security forces in bulldozers and Humvees stormed Camp Ashraf in an action enthusiastically hailed by

2835-479: The group claimed was a massacre by Iraqi forces. In a statement, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon deplored "the tragic events at Camp Ashraf" and said Baghdad should "promptly investigate the incident and disclose the findings." Hussein Al-Moosawi, a spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, later confirmed that several MKO members had been killed, but denied any involvement of the Iraqi authorities and stated

2898-537: The group to be handed over to them for prosecution. However, the MEK received protection under international law. In 2004, the U.S. determined that the residents of Camp Ashraf were "noncombatants" and "protected persons", and the United Nations commission described the residents as "formal asylum seekers" against persecution by the regime in Iran. On January 1, 2009, the U.S. officially transferred control of Camp Ashraf to

2961-464: The guidance of Ad Melkert , UNAMI started to engage UNHCR into a process of refugee status determination of the residents. By end of September 2011, UNHCR had received more than 3000 applications for asylum by Camp Ashraf inhabitants. On Sept. 29, 2011, UNAMI and UNHCR requested the Government of Iraq to recognize UNHCR becoming engaged in the refugee registration procedure; however, al-Maliki's office rejected this proposal, pointing out that Camp Ashraf as

3024-492: The massacres in Ashraf inside Iraq by a government that itself has ordered these massacres, has taken on this case. In its last writ dated July 11, 2011, the court summoned senior Iraqi officers to appear before the court on October 3, 2011, for war crimes. The Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki is also to appear before the court once he leaves his post as premier that gives him immunity from judicial prosecution. End of April 2011 on

3087-421: The military withdrawal. The Office of Security Cooperation — Iraq, part of the larger Embassy after the 2011 U.S. withdrawal held the remaining Department of Defense support personnel, totalling about 1,000 contractors and about 147 DOD uniformed personnel. It operated from ten locations around Iraq, and managed about 370 Foreign Military Sales cases, totaling more than US$ 9 billion of pending arms sales, citing

3150-415: The necessary time for exploring this perspective. On December 10, 2009 the Iraqi government announced plans to move the MEK from Camp Ashraf to a former detention center, Neqrat al-Salman , about 200 miles (120 kilometers) west of Basra . In response, the MEK refused to comply with the decision. On December 15, 2009, Iraqi government sent a group of its security forces into the camp to urge the residents of

3213-470: The non-refoulment principle". However, within few weeks after his arrival on 8 October 2011, Martin Kobler internally announced a change of strategy to the UNAMI staff, presuming that residents of Camp Ashraf were "terrorists" and that the Government could not be expected to negotiate with "terrorists", thus UNAMI's new goal would be a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Iraq aimed to induce relocation. Bowing to Government's ultimatum to expel

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3276-513: The organisation. In order to house the defectors, the US Army built a separate camp adjacent to Camp Ashraf, where the PMOI/MEK was concentrated, known as the Temporary Internment and Protection Facility (TIPF). Under U.S. military protection, the group was disarmed and became confined to Camp Ashraf. When the U.S. military formally gave control back to the Iraqi government in January 2009, it caused several issues, mainly where Iraq asked for

3339-451: The original target completion date was September 2007. "A week after submitting his FY2006 budget to Congress, the President sent Congress an FY2005 emergency supplemental funding request. Included in the supplemental is more than $ 1.3 billion for the embassy in Iraq." An emergency supplemental appropriation (H.R. 1268/P.L. 109–13), which included $ 592 million for embassy construction,

3402-450: The resident's eligibility for refugee status. In 2012, as laid down in the MOU, near all of the residents were moved from Camp Ashraf to Camp Liberty , an operation which was presented by UNAMI and Martin Kobler as preventive diplomacy taking into account the main concerns of both actors and as voluntary relocation of people designated by the US as terrorist organization, leading to a safe path to

3465-633: The residents by end of the year, this agreement was signed at the end of December 2011. In the course of the process, the Government had rejected any attempt to find a solution acceptable to all parties concerned, under inclusion of the residents, and which preserved their acquired rights, resulting in a mere displacement, without consent and participation by the residents, to the new temporary transit location Camp Liberty (Camp Hurriya in Arabic) in Baghdad (a onetime U.S. Marine base), where UNHCR would start to determine

3528-605: Was attacked by supporters of Popular Mobilization Forces militia in response to airstrikes in Iraq and Syria conducted by United States Air Force the previous Sunday. The embassy was also repeatedly attacked by Iranian-aligned Iraqi Shiite militias and Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps following President Trump's order for a drone strike assassination against Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in Baghdad Airport on 3 January 2020. The United States established diplomatic relations with Iraq in 1930 and opened

3591-567: Was "Grizzly" dubbed after the California Grizzly Bear on the State Flag, TASK FORCE 49, 49th Military Police Battalion and Forward Operating Base Commander, LTC Anthony Palumbo and CSM Paul George conducted operations with over 2,000 U.S. and Coalition and 300 Contract employees. 2003-2004 2004-2005 530th Military Police Battalion 336th Military Police Battalion 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2009 2009-2010 Embassy of

3654-561: Was a U.S. Army Forward Operating Base located within Camp Ashraf , Diyala province , Iraq. It was located near Al Khalis , approximately 20 kilometers (12.4 mi) west of the Iranian border and 60 km (37 mi) north of Baghdad . The FOB was named after the callsign for the 49th Military Police Battalion. They were in charge of the FOB from October 2005 until October 2006 and their call sign

3717-457: Was directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and conducted by Iranian proxy militias Kata'ib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl al-Haq , killing 52 civilians, with numerous prisoners being taken to Tehran following the raid. According to the U.S. State Department, the MEK, which established its base at Ashraf in 1986, was then welcomed into Iraq during the Iran–Iraq War . The city of Ashraf

3780-622: Was named in commemoration of Ashraf Rabiei , a famous political prisoner at the time of the Shah , a senior member of the People's Mujahedin of Iran and wife of Massoud Rajavi . She was killed in a firefight with the Revolutionary Guard in 1982, after the Iranian Revolution . The MEK established its base at Ashraf in 1986. The refugees began on a barren land with no facilities, paved road, or running water. The members of PMOI built it into

3843-602: Was not able to retaliate due to its own fight against Kurdish separatist guerillas and the Western-imposed no-fly zones that crippled and limited its air force's operations. Another air raid was conducted on 26 May 1993 against Ashraf and Jalat (near Sulaimaniyah ) with 12 planes, according to a PMOI statement. The attacks were in retaliation for several attacks on Iranian military personnel and oil pipelines in Khuzestan Province , which Iran described as attempts to disrupt

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3906-493: Was signed into law on May 11, 2005. According to the Department of State, this funding was all that was needed for construction of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. However, Walter Pincus of The Washington Post found that the new embassy had cost more than $ 700 million by 2012; Business Insider reported in 2013 that the cost of the embassy had surpassed $ 750 million. The Obama administration requested more than $ 100 million for

3969-462: Was then re-established with Poland as the protecting power. In 2003, the United States invaded Iraq and overthrew the government of Saddam Hussein . The U.S. then established diplomatic relations with the new Iraqi government. Because the old U.S. embassy was located outside of the Green Zone , it was deemed unsafe for American diplomats and remained deserted. A temporary embassy was established in

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