The Iranian-backed militia Kata’ib Hezbollah says it is extending its pause in attacks on US forces for five days. The pause appears to coincide with US President Donald Trump also saying that he will postpone attacks on Iranian energy sites.
Kata’ib Hezbollah “has extended by five days a deadline it set for the US Embassy in Baghdad, while warning that all foreign forces must leave the country or face further escalation,” the Kurdish media network Rudaw noted.
Abu Mujahid al-Assaf, a security official for the group, said that “the duration of the deadline granted to the American embassy of evil will be extended for another five days,” adding they will “deal with the enemy’s violations accordingly.” The group had already carried out numerous attacks on US facilities in Iraq. It had often targeted the US Embassy and also a diplomatic support site at the airport. Iraq’s intelligence agency was also targeted, although it’s not clear which Iranian-backed group was behind the attack. One Iraqi intelligence service member was killed in the incident.
Kata’ib Hezbollah had initially ceased its attacks last week. This came after numerous attacks on members of Iranian-backed militias. The militias blame the US and Israel for these attacks. Kata’ib Hezbollah was apparently concerned that its leaders might be attacked and made several demands of the US in exchange for ending its attacks on the US Embassy.
“This war initiated by the American enemy shall only reach its conclusion at our hands,” Kata’ib Hezbollah said. “Our primary condition is the expulsion of all foreign troops from the north to the south of Iraq,” the group noted.
Kata’ib Hezbollah is also accusing “Iraq’s National Intelligence Service of widespread foreign ties,” Rudaw noted.
“We have information that 100% of the Kurdish officers belonging to it are linked to Mossad and the Americans,” Kata’ib Hezbollah claimed, adding that “more than 70% of the service’s personnel” have ties to American, Jordanian, and Emirati intelligence.
US - Iran talks
On March 23, Trump said, “I am pleased to report that the United States of America and the country of Iran have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East. Based on the tenor and tone of these in-depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, which will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.”
Kata’ib Hezbollah’s pause in attacks may be linked to the US also deciding to postpone the strikes in Iran. Iran’s IRGC is very close to the leadership of Kata’ib Hezbollah. Iran has used groups in Iraq, such as Kata’ib Hezbollah, to spread the war to Iraq.
Meanwhile, the Kurdish Peshmerga Ministry released a statement condemning the attacks by Iranian-backed groups on the Kurdistan region. It didn’t mention any group specifically, nor Iran, due to the sensitive relations between the Kurdistan region in Iraq and Iran. However, it did say, “outlawed terrorist groups launched another sabotage attack last night on a Peshmerga forces headquarters on the outskirts of Chamchamal [city], using an explosive-laden drone… We strongly condemn this attack, which aims to undermine security and stability in the region.”
Rudaw added, “Kurdish military officials on Sunday called on the federal government in Baghdad to rein in outlawed armed groups that have repeatedly targeted Kurdistan Region Peshmerga forces, following another drone attack on a Peshmerga base overnight.”
Some members of the Iranian-backed militias continue to be attacked. These groups are members of Iraq’s paramilitary force called the Popular Mobilization Forces, and the PMF’s 45th Brigade in Jurf al-Sakhr was attacked.