THE chief of Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah tonight announced a halt to the militia’s attacks on US assets inside both Syria and Iraq.
The decision follows the killing of three US troops in a drone ambush near the Jordan–Syria border – an attack that the Pentagon said bore the “footprints” of the Iraq-based terror group.
Kata’ib Hezbollah Brigades Secretary-General al-Hamidawi announced the immediate “suspension” of military operations against the US.
He said in a statement: “As we announce the suspension of military and security operations against the occupation forces – in order to prevent embarrassment to the Iraqi government – we will continue to defend our people in Gaza in other ways.”
Instead, al-Hamidawi advised his fighters to engage in “passive defence if any hostile American action occurs towards them”.
The Hezbollah Brigades are a group affiliated with the Hashed al-Shaabi, an alliance of Iran-backed former paramilitary groups now integrated in Iraq’s regular armed forces.
read more on middle east
The US has 45,000 military personnel currently stationed in the Middle East.
There are roughly 2,500 American troops in Iraq and some 900 in Syria – a hangover from occupation era and an attempt to monitor Islamic extremist threats.
The striking announcement followed reports President Joe Biden was considering blitzing targets belonging to the Iran-backed group as he plots a revenge strike for the ambush on the US base that killed three.
Sgt William Rivers, 46, Specialist Kennedy Sanders, 24, and Specialist Breonna Moffett, 23, were killed in the unprecedented attack on the Tower 22 base in Jordan that injured another 34.
Most read in The Sun
The strike marked the first US deaths by enemy fire since the start of the Israel-Hamas war – a major escalation in the crisis taking hold across the region.
Who are Kata’ib Hezbollah?
KATA’IB Hezbollah is a radical Shiite paramilitary group based in southern Iraq.
Also known as the Hezbollah Brigades, the group was founded in 2007 and has close ties with Hezbollah and Iran’s terrorist army, the Islamist Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The group is also affiliated with the Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation Force), an alliance of Iran-backed former paramilitary groups now integrated into Iraq’s regular armed forces.
With up to 10,000 members, the group has been responsible for attacks on US targets in Iraq and Syria killing hundreds of soldiers.
Its leader Ahmad al-Hamidawi, was named a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in February 2020.
The Pentagon believes that a drone strike on a US base near the Syria-Jordan border on January 27 that killed three personnel bore the ‘footprints’ of the group.
On Monday, Biden held private meetings with his national security team to discuss the “unacceptable” attack – and officials said they are preparing to hit back with force.
White House national security spokesman, John Kirby, vowed that a “very consequential response” would be carried out.
He ruled out the possibility of directly attacking Iran, stating the US would not “escalate” the conflict.
He said: “We do not seek another war. We do not seek to escalate. But we will absolutely do what is required.”
Kirby added that their eventual response will take into account “that these groups, backed by Tehran, have just taken the lives of American troops.”
According to Politico, options include attacking Iranian personnel in Syria or Iraq, or Iranian naval assets in the Persian Gulf.
Prior to the attack on the American base, the US launched a wave of airstrikes last week that specifically targeted Kata’ib Hezbollah as well as other Iran-affiliated groups.
The strikes targeted facilities in Jurf al-Sakhar, south of Baghdad, al-Qaim and another unnamed site in western Iraq.
The attack was a retaliation after a ballistic missile ambush at the American Al-Asad airbase days before which left four US military personnel with traumatic brain injuries.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Defence chief Austin said: “The President and I will not hesitate to take necessary action to defend them and our interests.
“We are fully prepared to take further measures to protect our people and our facilities. We call on these groups and their Iranian sponsors to immediately cease these attacks.”
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News
Sun
