Kataib Hizbollah Mujahideen Attack: Three American Soldiers Wounded, 2 Killed Biden Attacked.
Kataib Hizbollah Mujahideen Attack: Three American Soldiers Wounded, 2 Killed Biden Attacked. On November 22, 2023, Iraq's government condemned U.S. airstrikes south of Baghdad that killed eight members of the Iran-aligned Iraqi armed group Kataib Hezbollah, calling them a "dangerous escalation" not coordinated with authorities[1]. The U.S. has carried out two series of strikes in Iraq since Tuesday, in response to more than 60 attacks by Iran-aligned militias against forces in the region[1]. The strikes destroyed a Kataib Hezbollah operations center and a command and control node[1]. Kataib Hezbollah is part of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), a group of mainly Shi'ite Muslim armed groups that was formed in 2014 to fight the Islamic State[1]. In a separate incident, on October 20, 2023,
Iraqi militias claimed a new drone attack against the US base in Harir[2]. Another drone strike targeted the US-led coalition military base[2]. On June 28, 2021, President Biden ordered airstrikes against facilities used by Iran-backed militia groups, resulting in at least four deaths in Iraq and Syria[3]. The airstrikes targeted operational and weapons storage facilities at two locations in Syria and one in Iraq[3]. Kataib Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attacks and vowed to retaliate against the US airstrike, stating that "the decision for revenge has been taken, and the American enemy will see death with his own eyes. An eye for an eye and what is coming is severe"[3]. In February 2021, Kataib Hezbollah was involved in an attack on Erbil airport, which resulted in the death of a military contractor and an Iraqi civilian[4]. The Biden administration conducted an airstrike in Syria on February 26, 2021, targeting Iranian-linked Iraqi militias, including Kataib Hezbollah and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada[5]. The airstrike came in response to a deadly attack on a location housing U.S. personnel in Iraq that American officials attributed to Iranian-linked groups[5].
what is kata Hezbollah and what is their relationship with Iran?
Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH) is an Iranian-backed Iraqi Shia militia. It is considered a "Tier 1" armed group and operates under Iran's direct command, fielding a wide range of cells responsible for various operations, including kinetic, media, and social activities. The group is part of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), a coalition of mainly Shi'ite Muslim armed groups formed in 2014 to fight the Islamic State. KH is a de facto branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) and was coalesced from "special groups" operated by the IRGC-QF in 2005-2007. The group has been involved in various attacks and has a history of targeting U.S. forces. It is also known for its close relationship with Iran, being one of Iran's most favored militant groups in Iraq
.The relationship between Kata'ib Hezbollah and Iran is characterized by direct command and control, with KH being a de facto branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF). This close relationship is further evidenced by the group's formation from "special groups" operated by the IRGC-QF and its status as one of Iran's most favored militant groups in Iraq
what is the history of Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq?
Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH), or the Hezbollah Brigades, is a radical Iraqi Shiite paramilitary group that has been active since 2003. It has been part of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), a coalition of mainly Shi'ite Muslim armed groups formed in 2014 to fight the Islamic State. KH is a de facto branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and has been listed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group by the United States since 2009.The history of Kata'ib Hezbollah in Iraq can be summarized as follows:
- Coalesced from "special groups" operated by the IRGC-QF in 2005-2007
- Formed in the mid-2000s as Iran's most favored militant group in Iraq.
- Active in the Iraq War (2003-2011) and the Syrian civil war (2011-present).
- Dominated and founding member of the Iraqi Resistance Coordination Committee (al-Haya al-Tansiqiya)
- Member of the Islamic Resistance of Iraq
. - Controlled key departments in the PMF, such as chief of staff, security, and intelligence
Kata'ib Hezbollah has been involved in various attacks and has a history of targeting U.S. forces. After the general defeat of IS in Iraq in 2017, KH returned to targeting U.S. forces
. The group was commanded by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis until he was killed in a U.S. drone attack in 2020
. Since then, the group has continued to operate under Iran's direct command, fielding a wide range of cells responsible for kinetic, media, and social operations
what is the ideology of Kataib Hezbollah?
Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH) is an Iranian-sponsored, anti-American Shiite militia operating in Iraq with ancillary operations in Syria. The group's ideology is characterized by its loyalty to Iran and its role in exporting the Islamic revolution practiced in Tehran. It is considered a pro-Iranian, Islamist, jihadist, Khomeinist, and Shiite organization, and it has been involved in attacks against U.S. and coalition forces. KH is listed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group by the United States and is known for its close relationship with Iran, being one of Iran's most favored militant groups in Iraq
what are the popular mobilization forces (PMF) in Iraq?
The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) is an Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella organization composed of approximately 67 different armed groups with around 230,000 fighters that are mostly Shia Muslim groups, but also include Sunni Muslim, Christian, and Yazidi groups[1]. The PMF traces their origins to the so-called Special Groups, a US term to designate groups of the Iraqi insurgency that were Shiite, supported and funded by the Iranian Quds Force, as opposed to Ba'atahist loyalist or radical Sunni Salafi jihadist insurgents[1]. The PMF played a critical role in the fight against the Islamic State, but this paramilitary force now represents a challenge to civil-military relations because many PMF militias retain ties to Iran, and many PMF fighters remain loyal[2][3]. The PMF is growing fast by every metric, from budget to authorized manpower to training and economic programs, though militia leaders seem wary of highlighting this expansion.Kataib Hizbollah Mujahideen Attack: Three American Soldiers Wounded, 2 Killed Biden Attacked.
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