Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-supported Iraqi militia, halted its operations against US forces following a drone attack that allegedly resulted in the deaths of three American soldiers in Jordan.
The group stated the decision aims to avoid putting the Iraqi government in a difficult position. The US has alluded to a potential armed retaliation.
US President
Joe Biden indicated he has determined a response to the incident, while the Pentagon reminded that actions outweigh verbal commitments. Iran has dismissed involvement claims and threatened to counter any strikes on its interests.
After the drone attack on a base near the Jordanian-Syrian border, which injured many US servicemen, the Pentagon suggested Kataib Hezbollah's involvement without definitive proof.
The US is upgrading the targeted base's security, where approximately 350 American soldiers are deployed for anti-IS operations. After the attack, speculated to involve Iranian-supplied drones, additional air defenses are being dispatched.
Officials suggest Iran directs regional militia operations against US and Israeli interests, evidenced by the increase in attacks correlating with the Israel-Hamas conflict.
In retaliation, the US has targeted IRGC-affiliated groups and leaders, possibly escalating to include direct strikes within Iran's borders. Iran has warned of a decisive response to any aggressions.
Kataib Hezbollah, part of the Iran-backed militias known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, recently took credit for an attack that killed US troops, marking the first such fatalities since the renewed conflict in Gaza. The US has responded to similar provocations with airstrikes on militia-linked facilities in the region.