Key Target was Iranian-backed group, Kata’ib Hezbollah
A U.S. military strike in Baghdad on Wednesday resulted in the death of the
leader of Kata’ib Hezbollah, a militia group accused of planning attacks on American troops. This Iranian-backed group has been linked to numerous attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. The strike has raised concerns of backlash in Iraq, where the government has condemned the ongoing violence and expressed frustration over being caught in the conflict between the U.S. and Iran-supported militias.
Recent U.S. actions in Iraq and Syria have led to civilian casualties, prompting protests from the Iraqi government. The U.S. has defended its actions as necessary to protect its troops, with officials emphasizing their commitment to respond to threats against approximately 3,500 American military personnel in the region.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, in a statement to Fox News, underscored the impact of the attacks on American families, stating, “Three Americans were killed, three troops; three families now are grieving. The president is determined not to remain passive in the face of such losses and will take appropriate action in response.”