The Iraqi government and Iran pressured Kataib Hezbollah and other Iraqi Shia militias to suspend attacks against US forces in an effort to de-escalate tensions in the region, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
Kataib Hezbollah, one of Iraq’s main Shia militias, announced on Tuesday that it was suspending operations against the US because it didn’t want to “embarrass” the Iraqi government. In its statement, Kataib Hezbollah said Iran had “repeatedly declared opposition to our escalation against the US forces in Iraq and Syria.”
The announcement came as the US is preparing to respond to the drone attack in northeastern Jordan that killed three US troops. The US has not formally blamed Kataib Hezbollah but said the attack had the group’s “footprints.” The White House said on Wednesday that intelligence pointed to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a shadowy umbrella group of Shia militias that Kataib Hezbollah is believed to be a part of.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed most of the 160 attacks that have been launched against US forces in Iraq and Syria in response to US support for the Israeli slaughter in Gaza. The group has not officially taken credit for killing the three US troops but said it launched attacks in Syria near the Jordanian border that day.
According to Reuters, killing US troops in Jordan was a step too far for the Iraqi government. Farhad Alaadin, adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, confirmed that the Iraqi government worked to de-escalate and get Kataib Hezbollah to agree not to attack the US.
“Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has been hard at work in the past few days, engaging with all relevant parties inside and outside Iraq,” Alaadin said, according to The Cradle. “All sides need to support the efforts of the Prime Minister to prevent any possible escalation.”
Iraqi sources told Reuters that ruling Iraqi Shia factions helped broker a deal to put an end to attacks on US troops. “This comes as a result of internal pressure and also a will by our neighbor (Iran) to de-escalate,” an Iraqi Shia politician said.
Another source described the negotiating as “a real team effort including with participation of the neighbor,” again referring to Iran.
One source said the other Shia militias agreed to suspend operations as well but that they could resume if the US launches a major attack in response to the killing of US troops. NBC News reported on Wednesday that the US is planning a weeks-long bombing campaign that might include direct attacks on the Iranian military outside of Iran.
The US is considering hitting the Iranian military despite admitting it has no evidence Iran was directly involved in the attack. Iran has also strongly denied any role.
It might be too late.
Of course it is. The US was already going to attack while admitting Iran had no direct involvement or that Tehran wasn’t calling the shots. You know, the very same excuses the US uses while arming Ukraine and expecting no response from Russia on US assets.
At least two countries are trying to eliminate the case for a war that could end us all. The US and Israel are doing the opposite. No one will WIN the next war. Civilization will lose.There will,be no profits if all of the would be consumers are dead from radiation or Climate Change that wipes out Fishing,fruits and vegetables as well as fresh air and clean water all of which are necessary for life on our soon to be dead planet.
Basically, Hezbollah and Iran are doing their best not to climb the escalation ladder. The U.S, and Israel? It is “tally ho and bombs away”.
What the be F–k else is new
Exactly