UPDATES: Fourteen Killed in Clashes in Iraq, More Than 300 Injured - Reports

According to the television channel, fierce battles are under way in Baghdad and Basra between the Saraya al-Salam (Peace Forces) brigade subordinate to al-Sadr and units of the Shiite militia al-Hashd al-Shaabi. The sides use mortars and heavy machine guns.

Additionally, Sadr announced the start of a hunger strike until the end of violence in Iraq, according to Hassan al-Athari, the head of the resigned Sadrist bloc.

The United States has ample security at its embassy in Baghdad to ensure the safety of American personnel, a senior US defense official said on Monday.

"We have ample security at the Embassy in Baghdad to ensure that [security]," the official said during a conference call.

Twelve people were killed and 270 more were injured after clashes erupted between Iraqi security forces and followers of influential Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr in Baghdad’s Green Zone on Monday, media reported.

Earlier in the day, demonstrators stormed the Republican Palace in Baghdad’s Green Zone, hours after influential Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr announced his final retirement from politics and the closure of all party offices amid threats of his physical elimination. Riots have also engulfed other provinces of Iraq, in the south of the country in particular, where the Shiite community lives. The security forces took control of the Republican Palace in the capital after they reportedly used tear gas and water cannons against protesters.

Agence France-Presse reported that the death toll from clashes in Baghdad has risen to 12, with another 270 people having been injured by tear gas. Sky News Arabia previously reported about two dead and 19 injured.

The Iraqi authorities imposed a nationwide curfew on Monday from 19:00 p.m. local time (16:00 GMT) until further notice.

Iraq has been facing a political deadlock since the parliamentary elections in October 2021. Sadr's political bloc won the elections but reverted to the opposition in May and stepped down in June after several unsuccessful attempts to form a government.

Sadr's supporters resumed protests in Baghdad in late July, breaking into the parliament building and refusing to leave it. The protests were triggered by the nomination of Mohammed Sudani, another representative of Shiite parties in the Iraqi parliament except for Sadr's bloc, for the post of prime minister. Sudani represents the Coordination Framework, an Iran-backed alliance of Shiite forces forming the largest bloc in the Iraqi legislature.

In August, Sadr called on authorities to dissolve parliament and schedule next general elections, however the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq declined the request.

His Excellency, the Prime Minister, called on citizens to abide by the security instructions and the curfew hours.

The reports that the US Embassy in Baghdad has been evacuated are false, a State Department spokesperson said.

"These reports are false. Ensuring the safety of US government personnel, US citizens and the security of our facilities remains our highest priority," the spokesperson said.

The United States is concerned about escalating tensions in Iraq between the Iraqi government and protesters, and urges them to refrain from violence, the Embassy in Baghdad said on Monday.

Earlier on Monday, clashes erupted between Iraqi security forces and followers of influential Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr in Baghdad’s Green Zone. Iraqi security forces have reportedly taken control of the Republican Palace in Baghdad after they used tear gas against protesters.

"Reports of unrest all over Iraq today are alarming as Iraqi institutions are not allowed to work," the embassy said in a statement. "The US is concerned over rising tensions and urges all parties to remain peaceful and refrain from actions that could lead to a spiral of violence."

Iraq will impose the countrywide curfew at 19:00 local time (04:00 p.m. GMT) on Monday and until further notice over ongoing protests, the Iraqi Security Forces Joint Command said.

"Complete ban on movement in all provinces of Iraq from 19:00 today until further notice," the statement said, as quoted by al Jazeera.

A shooting in the Green Zone of Baghdad, where followers of influential Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr are protesting, injured two people on Monday, Sky News Arabiya reported, citing eyewitnesses.

Hundreds of followers of Sadr broke into Baghdad’s Green Zone shortly after the cleric announced his retirement from politics. The protesters also broke into the Republican Palace where the government’s headquarters are located.