US Drone Strike Kills Senior Iran-Backed Militia Commander in Baghdad
In a significant development, a senior commander of an Iran-backed militia was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad. The targeted strike took place in the eastern part of the Iraqi capital, where a leader of Kataib Hezbollah and two of his guards were traveling in a vehicle. All three individuals tragically lost their lives in the attack.
The Pentagon has stated that the commander was responsible for directing attacks on American forces in the region. This strike comes after the US linked the militia to a drone attack in Jordan last month, which resulted in the deaths of three US troops. In response to that attack, Kataib Hezbollah had announced a suspension of attacks on American troops to avoid causing embarrassment to the Iraqi government.
The drone raid occurred in Baghdad’s Mashtal neighborhood, causing several loud explosions. It was a precise strike on a moving vehicle in a busy street, reducing the car to a fiery wreck. One of the victims has been identified as Abu Baqir al-Saadi, a senior commander in Kataib Hezbollah.
The US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed that the attack took place at 21:30 local time (18:30 GMT) and resulted in the death of the “commander responsible for directly planning and participating in attacks on US forces in the region.” Centcom also stated that there were no indications of collateral damage or civilian casualties at the time of their statement.
Upon reaching the scene, BBC reporters encountered crowds of protesters chanting anti-American slogans such as “America is the biggest devil.” The area was heavily policed, with SWAT teams from Iraq’s interior ministry present. However, when the BBC team attempted to approach the burnt-out vehicle, they were driven back by onlookers who expressed their hostility towards journalists, blaming foreigners for the incident.
There have been reports of crowds heading towards the heavily fortified US embassy to express their anger and protest against the drone strike. This raid comes just days after the US launched 85 strikes in Syria and Iraq in response to the drone attack on US troops on January 28th. President Joe Biden had described those strikes as just the beginning of the US response.
The drone raid in Baghdad marks a significant escalation in the US response, as previous strikes had primarily targeted the Iraq-Syria border region. It was expected that the American strategy would eventually include targeting not only the infrastructure used by these groups but also their senior leaders.
Shortly after the attack, militias in Iraq called for retaliation against the US. American forces have been facing near-daily rocket and drone strikes since the start of the Israel-Gaza war on October 7th. On January 4th, the US launched an airstrike in Baghdad against the leader of Harakat al Nujaba, another group held responsible for attacks on American troops.
Currently, the US has approximately 2,500 troops stationed in Iraq and 900 in neighboring Syria as part of its mission to combat the Islamic State terror group.
In conclusion, the US drone strike that killed a senior Iran-backed militia commander in Baghdad has sparked outrage and calls for retaliation from various factions in Iraq. This targeted strike represents a significant escalation in the US response and highlights the growing tensions between American forces and Iran-backed militias in the region. The aftermath of this incident will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences for the already volatile situation in Iraq and its impact on regional stability.