An Iraqi security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said the protesters stayed in the garden on Thursday and did not storm the offices inside the compound.

He said security forces opened fire in the air to disperse the protesters and reinforcements are on the way to Bagdad’s western neighborhood of Mansour.

The two-day workshop in Bahrain that ended Wendesday was to promote the Trump administration’s $50 billion economic support plan for the Palestinians ahead of a Mideast peace plan to be announced later.

Iraq is home to Iran-backed militias and the embassy attack comes amid tensions between the United States and Iran in the Middle East.

Bahrain recalls Ambassador from Iraq

The Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack on the embassy building. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain condemns the attack on the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Republic of Iraq by the demonstrators (which) led to sabotage in the embassy building,” a statement on the ministry’s website said.

The Foreign Ministry said it has decided to recall Salah Ali Al Malki, the Bahraini Ambassador to Iraq, for consultations and to hold the Iraqi government fully responsible for protecting the Bahraini Embassy and Consulate and all of its employees in accordance with the 1961 Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.

The Iraqi government condemned the protesters, and expressed “its deep regret” over the security breach at the embassy.

“The government of Iraq affirms its absolute rejection of any acts which threaten diplomatic missions, their safety and the security of their personnel,” it said in a statement.

(With agencies)