BAGHDAD, Jan 30 (Reuters) – Iran-aligned Iraqi armed group Kataib Hezbollah introduced on Tuesday the suspension of all its army operations towards U.S. troops within the area, in a call aimed toward stopping “embarrassment” of the Iraqi authorities, the group mentioned.
“As we announce the suspension of army and safety operations towards the occupation forces – with a purpose to forestall embarrassment of the Iraqi authorities – we are going to proceed to defend our folks in Gaza in different methods,” Kataib Hezbollah Secretary-General Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi mentioned in a press release.
Three U.S. troops have been killed in a drone assault close to the Jordan-Syria border on Sunday that the Pentagon mentioned bore the “footprints” of Kataib Hezbollah, although a ultimate evaluation had not but been made.
A Pentagon spokesperson declined to remark on the group’s assertion, including: “Actions converse louder than phrases.”
The U.S. has vowed to reply to the assault.
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Iran-aligned teams, recognized collectively because the “Axis of Reistance”, have been waging assaults towards Israeli and U.S. targets from Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria, since their Palestinian ally Hamas and Israel went to warfare on Oct. 7.
Kataib Hezbollah is essentially the most highly effective faction within the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of hardline Shi’ite armed factions which have claimed greater than 150 assaults on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria because the Gaza warfare started.
The U.S. has responded with lethal strikes in a cycle of escalating violence that Iraqi officers mentioned threatened to undo progress in direction of stabilizing the nation after a long time of battle.
Kataib Hezbollah’s determination adopted days of intensive efforts by Iraq’s prime minister to forestall a brand new escalation after the Jordan assault, his international affairs adviser Farhad Alaadin mentioned.
“Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has been onerous at work up to now few days, participating with all related events inside and outdoors Iraq,” Alaadin mentioned in an interview.
“All sides have to assist the efforts of the Prime Minister to forestall any potential escalation,” he added.
In its assertion, Kataib Hezbollah additionally mentioned there have been disagreements with allies over its assaults, singling out Iran.
It mentioned counterparts within the Axis of Resistance “usually object to the strain and escalation towards the American occupation forces in Iraq and Syria,” the assertion mentioned.
Iran has denied involvement in assaults by Iraqi teams.
Founded within the aftermath of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Kataib Hezbollah is among the elite Iraqi armed factions closest to Iran.
Iraq’s authorities is backed by events and armed teams near Iran, although circuitously by the hardline teams which have been firing on U.S. forces, Western and Iraqi officers say.
Baghdad has condemned the assaults whereas additionally saying regional escalation would proceed so long as the Gaza warfare went on.