U.S. strike kills pro-Iran commander over troops’ death

An American air strike in Iraq has killed a senior commander from a pro-Iran armed group who was involved in attacks on the troops of the United States military in the region.

The U.S. military disclosed this on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.

The U.S. launched a wave of strikes on Iran-linked targets in Iraq and Syria last week following the killing of three American troops in neighbouring Jordan on January 28, and the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the commander killed on Wednesday was targeted “in response to the attacks on U.S. service members”.

The strike killed “a Kataeb Hezbollah commander responsible for directly planning and participating in attacks on US forces in the region,” CENTCOM said, adding that there are “no indications of collateral damage or civilian casualties at this time”.

“The United States will continue to take necessary action to protect our people. We will not hesitate to hold responsible all those who threaten our forces’ safety,” it added.

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A member of Kataeb Hezbollah – which announced it was suspending violence against U.S. forces after the deadly Jordan attack – confirmed to AFP that a commander who was responsible for the “military file” in Syria had been killed, identifying him as Abu Baqr al-Saadi.

The Hashed al-Shaabi, a coalition of mainly pro-Iran paramilitaries now integrated into Iraq’s regular security forces, also confirmed Saadi’s death in a statement.

An interior ministry official said a total of three people – two Kataeb Hezbollah leaders and their driver – died in the strike, which was carried out by a drone in the east Baghdad neighbourhood of Machtal.

Reacting to the commander’s death, Iraq’s pro-Iran Al-Nujaba movement, in a statement, promised a “targeted retaliation”, assuring that “these crimes will not go unpunished”.

The group added that American “violations” will not cease without “a firm official position from the Iraqi government”.

Hamas also condemned a “violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and security”, according to a statement.

U.S. and allied troops have been attacked more than 165 times in the Middle East since mid-October in a campaign waged by Iran-backed armed groups angered by the United States support for Israel in the war in Gaza.

The Star