In a recent development, the US military has confirmed the killing of a commander from Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed armed group in Iraq. The commander, allegedly responsible for orchestrating attacks on US troops, was targeted in a drone strike in eastern Baghdad.
The US military issued a statement, asserting that the strike was conducted in response to previous attacks on American service members. While the statement did not disclose the name of the commander, two security sources revealed that the individual in question was Abu Baqir al-Saadi.
According to these sources, the drone strike resulted in the death of three individuals, and the targeted vehicle belonged to Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a state security agency comprising various armed groups, many of which have close ties to Iran. Notably, Kataib Hezbollah fighters and commanders are among the PMF’s ranks.
This development comes in the wake of heightened tensions between Iran-backed groups and US forces in the region, with a recent drone attack near the Jordan-Syria border claiming the lives of three US troops. The Pentagon attributed this attack to Kataib Hezbollah, prompting the group to announce a suspension of military operations against US troops.
The region has witnessed a surge in tit-for-tat attacks between Iran-backed armed groups and US forces, particularly since the onset of the Gaza war in October. Last weekend, the US carried out strikes on Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria as part of its response to the killing of the three American soldiers.
Following the recent strike, Iraqi special forces were placed on high alert in Baghdad, with additional units deployed within the Green Zone, which houses international diplomatic missions including the US embassy.
This incident marks another escalation in the ongoing tensions between Iran-backed groups and US forces stationed in Iraq, highlighting the precarious security situation in the region.
Sources By Agencies
