On Sunday, April 21, 2024, at least five rockets were launched from the town of Zummar in Iraq towards a United States-led coalition military base in Syria.
According to Reuters, sources say no one was injured in the strike.
It is the first attack from Iraq on the US-led coalition since February.
According to The Guardian, Kataib Hezbollah have said that Iraqi militia groups decided to resume attacks on the coalition due to the American military’s continued presence in the region.
The catalyst for the attack was reportedly Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani’s visit to Washington earlier in the week.
President Joe Biden hosted Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani at the White House, discussing US-Iraq relations, regional stability, and US military involvement. According to Kataib Hezbollah, however, the talks did not advance the exit of US troops in the country to the group’s satisfaction, thereby spurring on the attack.
The Iraqi Security Media Cell announced that they had launched a search and inspection operation in the area, near the Syrian border, targeting the alleged perpetrators.
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Who are Kataib Hezbollah?
Kataib Hezbollah (also spelled Kata’ib Hizballah) is a Shiite paramilitary group.
It was formed in 2003, following the US invasion of Iraq, and is backed by Iran.
According to Reuters, it is the “most powerful faction” of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.
Designated as a terrorist organization by the US in 2009, Kataib Hezbollah is still described by the US National Counterterrorism Center as a significant threat to US diplomatic and military personnel in Iraq and Syria.