JAKARTA - The Kataib Hezbollah militant group, the most powerful Iran-backed militia in Iraq, on Tuesday announced that it was taking responsibility for its military operations against United States troops, two days after three of the country's soldiers were killed and dozens of others were injured as a result of a drone attack in Jordan.
"We announce the suspension of military and security operations against the occupying forces (US troops), to prevent embarrassment for the Iraqi government," Kataib Hezbollah said in a statement, reported by CNN, January 31.
"We will continue to defend our people in Gaza at any other time. And we recommend to the brave Mujahideen of the Free Hezbollah Brigades to (carry out) passive (temporary) defense in the event of any hostile American action against them," the statement continued.
Kataib Hezbollah is considered the most powerful armed faction in the Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of a number of Iran-backed militias in the country.
Uncle Sam's country holds Iran responsible for arming and supporting these groups and specifically named Kataib Hezbollah as the party that possibly carried out Sunday's deadly attack.
Asked about the statement, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told a briefing: "We have seen the report. I have no specific comments to make other than actions speak louder than words."
The US has carried out a series of strikes in Iraq and Syria since the start of the war in Gaza targeting Kataib Hezbollah and other groups, in response to attacks on US interests in the region. Even so, attacks still continue to occur. US forces in the Middle East have been attacked about 166 times since October, US officials said.
Kataib Hezbollah's decision follows days of intensive efforts by the Iraqi prime minister to prevent a new escalation after the Jordan attack, said foreign affairs adviser Farhad Alaadin.
"Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has worked hard in recent days, involving all relevant parties inside and outside Iraq," Alaadin said in an interview, reported by Reuters.
"All parties need to support the Prime Minister's efforts to prevent possible escalation," he added.
Founded after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, Kataib Hezbollah is one of Iraq's elite armed factions closest to Iran.
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Iran denies involvement in attacks carried out by Iraqi groups, saying all members of Iran's "Axis of Resistance" planned and carried out the operation on their own.
The Iraqi government is supported by parties and armed groups close to Iran, although not directly by the hardliners who fired on US troops, Western and Iraqi officials said.
Baghdad itself condemned the attack, saying regional escalation would continue as long as the Gaza war was ongoing.
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