Iran convinced Iraqi militias to carry out attacks on US forces in Iraq between October 2023 and January, including Kataib Hezbollah's drone attack in Jordan that killed three American soldiers.
20% of Qassem Soleimani Forces' members are from the Houthis in Yemen, with the rest from pro-Iranian factions and groups in Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria.
Strikes in Iraq reflect an attempt by Iran to open a new front against the US after several months of quiet in Iraq.
Kataib Hezbollah and the Houthis have both slammed Saudi Arabia and other Arab states, accusing them of working with Israel.
The terror group slammed America as “evil and criminal” and accused it of “participating in the killing of the Palestinian people by supporting the Zionists..."
After a visit by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani to the US, Kataib Hezbollah officials in the country met to discuss the potential move.
The attack on Rumeilan is significant from a number of points of view.
Terror attack in Jerusalem • IDF intelligence head resigns •Kataib Hezbollah fire rockets at US military base • Fatah admits Hamas kills aid workers to steal food
Kirby said if there were no attacks on US troops, there would be no need for retaliatory strikes.
The killing of an Iranian-backed militia leader in Iraq will likely galvanize Iran’s allies in the country to try to expel the US.
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