February 7th 2024.
Members of the civil defense unit hurried to the location of a vehicle that had been set ablaze by a drone strike launched by the United States in east Baghdad, Iraq. The strike had taken place on Wednesday and had resulted in the death of a militia commander who was considered a prime suspect in the attack on American soldiers in Jordan, which had claimed three lives.
According to reports, the US forces had targeted a car in Baghdad on Wednesday night, resulting in the death of a high-ranking commander of the Kataib Hezbollah militia. Among the casualties was Wissam Muhammad Sabir Al-Saadi, also known as Abu Baqir or Abu Bakr Al-Saadi, who was in charge of the Kataib Hezbollah in Syria. This information was confirmed by two officials belonging to Iran-backed militias. The Kataeb Hezbollah also released a statement stating that Abu Bakr had died "following the bombing of the American occupation forces".
However, US officials claimed that they had initially believed the attack had only killed one person and that no civilians were harmed. As the news of the strike spread, Iraqis gathered at the site of the targeted vehicle, which had been left in ruins by the drone strike.
The US Central Command released a statement saying that there were no signs of any collateral damage or civilian casualties at the moment. They also added that the US would not hesitate to hold accountable anyone who posed a threat to the safety of their forces.
This attack came just five days after the US had launched airstrikes in Iraq and Syria as a response to the drone strike in Jordan that had claimed the lives of three American soldiers who were residing in container housing units. The US believes that Kataib Hezbollah, which is a part of the Islamic Resistance, a coalition of Iran-backed militias, was responsible for the Jordan attack. US officials have specifically pointed out Kataib Hezbollah as the main suspect in the drone strike.
As emergency crews responded to the scene, people gathered around the destroyed vehicle, which was being loaded onto a truck. The strike had taken place in the Mashtal neighborhood in the eastern part of Baghdad, and Iraqis were inspecting the charred remains of the targeted vehicle. This attack marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict in the region, even as US President Joe Biden has stated that the US is not seeking to engage in any larger wars in the Middle East.
The Islamic Resistance has previously stated that their attacks on American troops residing in housing units in Iraq and Syria are a response to the US's support for Israel in its conflict against Hamas in Gaza. Kataib Hezbollah had also announced before the Wednesday strike that they would cease targeting American troops to avoid "embarrassing the Iraqi government" in the aftermath of the Jordan attack. However, other groups have indicated that they will continue to fight against the US forces.
The strike carried out by the US has raised tensions in the region and has sparked concerns about a potential escalation of the conflict. As the situation continues to develop, the world watches with bated breath to see how it will unfold.
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