Watan-The Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades have suspended their operations against US forces in the region, according to a statement released by the group on Tuesday.
The Iraqi group, in a statement attributed to its Secretary-General Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, stated that it had “made its decision to support our oppressed people in Gaza independently, without any interference from others.”
This statement comes after Washington pledged to respond “appropriately” to a drone attack that resulted in the deaths of three US soldiers in Jordan.
Statement of the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades
The Iraqi Hezbollah group claimed that “our brothers in the Islamic Republic (Iran) do not know how we operate, and often object to the pressure and escalation against the American occupation forces in Iraq and Syria.”
U.S. Forces Strike Kataib Hezbollah Capabilities in Iraq
In response to attacks by the Iranian-backed militia group Kataib Hezbollah (KH), including the attack on al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq on Jan. 20, on Jan. 24 at 12:15 a.m. (Iraq time), U.S. CENTCOM forces conducted… pic.twitter.com/rSnbQdlRD4— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 23, 2024
The statement continued, “As a commitment from us to fulfill our humanitarian and ideological duty, we have acted with wisdom, deliberation, and careful consideration of legal and ethical standards in the most challenging and harsh circumstances. We declare the suspension of military and security operations against the occupation forces.”
The group added, “We will continue to defend our people in Gaza through other means, and we advise the fighters of the Free Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades to adopt a temporary defensive stance if there is any hostile American action against them.”
Pentagon’s Response
The Pentagon did not directly comment on the Brigades’ statement, stating, “We have no comment on the statement of the Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq, and our actions will speak louder than words.”
Wall Street Journal: Number of wounded in attack on U.S. base in Jordan rises to at least 47 soldiers pic.twitter.com/IAK4Kvo0qd
— ‘لاجِــئ (@Mo_mh7) January 30, 2024
According to activists, Iran has issued instructions to its militias in Iraq to halt targeting US bases as they have crossed Iran’s political red lines.
Attack on the U.S. Base in Jordan
It is noted that, in response to an attack by the group on the Al-Assad Air Base in western Iraq on January 20, the US forces conducted one-sided airstrikes against three facilities used by Iran-backed Hezbollah Brigades and other Iranian-affiliated groups in Iraq.
According to the US Central Command on its former “Ex”-Twitter account, these strikes targeted the headquarters of the Hezbollah Brigades, missile storage sites, and training facilities for one-way aerial capabilities.
Regarding the attack on the US base in Jordan, the Wall Street Journal confirmed that the number of injured in the attack had risen to at least 47 soldiers.
President Biden has said that a decision has been made on how the U.S. will retaliate.
The beginning aspects of the operation could be underway, so, we shall wait and see.
We could see something as soon as tonight or later this week.
— Global: Military-Info (@Global_Mil_Info) January 30, 2024
Response Options
The name “Hezbollah Brigades” was mentioned as being involved in carrying out the attack on the Jordanian border, as the Pentagon stated on Monday that the attack “bears the fingerprints of the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades.”
Options for response reported by Western media from US officials include striking Iranian elements in Syria or Iraq.
President Biden stated that a decision has been made on how the United States will respond. According to Global: Military-Info, the initial aspects of the operation may be underway, so we will wait and see. We may see something either later tonight or later this week.