TOP DIPLOMATIC ROWS IN HISTORY

1.    2012 Benghazi attack 

On September 11, 2012, the US embassy in Benghazi,Libya was attacked by heavily armed Islamist rebel group, leading to the death of ambassador Christopher Stevens and one information officer of the embassy. The same group also launched an organised attack on the covert CIA base nearby embassy on the same day, leading to the death of two US personnel in the crossfire. Later on, with the help of Libyan government, the embassy and CIA base was evacuated. Immediately after the attack. Libya condemned the attack and Libyan people also demonstrated in support of the US people, which prevented the relationship between the two countries from further deterioration.

2.    Murder of Yvonne Fletcher 

On April 17, 1984, Yvonne Fletcher, the police officer at UK was shot on duty while monitoring the protest in front of Libyan Embassy in UK. She died shortly after the shot. The protest was organised by Libyan National Salvation Front, against the action of Gaddafi government for killing two students who criticised the Gaddafi government. The shooting was carried out from inside the embassy without warning. After the shooting, the British Army seiged the embassy for 11 hours. In its response, Libyan forces also surrounded the UK embassy. UK severed all the ties with Libya untill 1994, when Gaddafi took responsibility for the attack and offered to pay the victims of the family. 

3.    Visa Fraud and False Statement case of Devyani Khobragade

Devyani Khobragade, then Deputy Consul General of India to Us was arrested by US authorities on December 11, 2013 and was stripped searched on the charges of visa fraud and false statements regarding her domestic helper Sangitha Richard. This foiled the diplomatic relations between India and US. To give her full immunity, India transferred her to United Nations Permanent Mission, and US had to issue her a G-Visa, which allowed her full immunity and she left from US to India. After her arrest, India announced a number of steps against the US diplomats, which included expulsion of US diplomat Wayne May for assisting Richard's family in securing T-visa, revoking government issued IDs for US diplomats, refusing to held dialogue with US Congressional Delegates who were visiting India at the time, and also removing concrete security barricade at US Embassy in Delhi. 

4.    Attack on British Embassy in Iran

On 29 November, 2011, the British Embassy in Iran was attacked by a mob of angry Iranian protesters. The protest was in reaction to the Britain move of sanctions against Iran because of its nuclear power programOne small building was set on fire, the offices were torn apart and the documents were stolen. The immediate evacuation was planned immediately after the attack. Britain, then severed all its diplomatic ties with Iran and also expelled the Iranian Embassy in Britain, giving them 48 hours to leave the country.

5.    Execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr

On January 2, 2016, Saudi Aradia executed Shia cleric, Nimr-al-Nimr in spite of huge opposition from Iran (a Shia majority state). The Kingdom has accused him of terrorism offences as he was the vocal supporter against the Kingdom treatment of Shia minority.The Saudi Embassy at Iran was stormed with angry religious mob who ransacked and set fire in the embassy. Saudi embassy severed tis diplomatic ties with Iran and gave 48 hours for the Iranian diplomats to leave the Kingdom.