(TheProudRepublic.com) – Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shiite militia based in Iraq, has threatened to attack American military bases in Iraq and across the Middle East if the U.S. further assists Israel in its conflict with Hamas.
This declaration was made by Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, who identifies himself as the “Hezbollah Brigades Secretary-General.” He stated, “Our missiles, drones, and special forces are ready to … strike the American enemy in its bases and disrupt its interests if it intervenes in this battle.”
Kataib Hezbollah is one of the largest Iran-controlled Shiite militias in Iraq. It was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government in 2009 and played a significant role in attacks against American bases in Iraq, including the deadly rocket attacks in late 2019.
Al-Hamidawi emphasized the terrorist group’s commitment to solidarity with the Palestinians, citing Islamic law as their rationale. He also commended Hamas for its lethal attacks against Israeli civilians.
Another Iraqi militant leader, Akram al-Kaabi of Harakat Hezbollah Nujaba, echoed these threats, promising a “military response” against any nation that supports Israel. Hadi al-Amiri of the Badr Organization also warned that all American targets would be considered legitimate in such a scenario.
Notably, Iran’s PressTV characterized the recent fatal events as a “surprise attack dubbed Operation al-Aqsa Storm” by the “Palestinian Hamas resistance movement” against the “occupying regime.”
Iraqi government spokesman Basim al-Awadi also downplayed Hamas’ attacks, portraying them as a response to “longstanding oppression by the Zionist occupation.” He called for global intervention to restore Palestinian rights.
In response to the conflict, influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for “large-scale demonstrations and jihad against Israel.”
The Trump administration swiftly and vehemently responded to these attacks with airstrikes that killed multiple KH members, including Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian mastermind behind the group’s operations. The group is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a collection of primarily Shiite Iraqi militias that received significant funding from the Iraqi government to combat the Islamic State. However, the PMF has been implicated in numerous human rights abuses and factional infighting.
In this volatile context, Kataib Hezbollah’s threats against American bases add another layer of complexity to the ongoing conflicts in the region.
