News of War Staff Writer
Fighter of the Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah militia group stands the site of a U.S. airstrike, in Hilla, Iraq December 26, 2023. Reuters/Alaa al-Marjani
Exploring Kataib Hezbollah: The Iran-backed Militia Accused of Killing US Troops on the Jordanian-Syrian Border
The United States has indicated that the recent attack on the Jordanian-Syrian border, which resulted in the deaths of three American troops, bears the hallmarks of Kataib Hezbollah, a militia backed by Iran, according to a statement from the Pentagon. This assertion adds another layer of complexity to the volatile situation in the Middle East.
Kataib Hezbollah, founded in the wake of the 2003 invasion of Iraq led by the United States, has emerged as one of the most prominent Iraqi factions closely aligned with Iran. This group is a key player within the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a conglomerate of hardline Shi'ite armed factions. Kataib Hezbollah is credited with orchestrating over 150 attacks against US forces since the onset of the Gaza war.
The group, known for its lethal attacks against military and diplomatic targets, particularly in the 2000s, utilises a range of tactics including sniper assaults, rocket and mortar attacks, and roadside bombs. Despite its notorious activities, Kataib Hezbollah neither confirms nor denies its involvement in such operations.
The United States officially designated Kataib Hezbollah as a terrorist organization in 2009. The group was under the leadership of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a dual Iraqi-Iranian citizen, until his death in a US drone strike in 2020. This strike also claimed the life of Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Quds Force, at Baghdad's international airport.
Kataib Hezbollah subscribes to a transnational Shi'ite ideology, viewing the borders separating Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon as artificial Western constructs. The presence of US troops in Iraq is vehemently opposed by the group, which advocates for their expulsion. It has actively participated in Syria's civil war, siding with other Shi'ite militias against predominantly Sunni rebels, and continues to maintain its presence in Syria.
The organisational structure of Kataib Hezbollah remains enigmatic, with no publicly acknowledged leadership. However, Iraqi officials and members within the group reveal that it commands thousands of fighters and possesses an array of drones, rockets, and short-range ballistic missiles.
Over the years, US forces have conducted several strikes against Kataib Hezbollah's positions, bases, and logistical hubs in response to drone and missile attacks by the group. Most recently, on January 24, US forces targeted several locations in Jurf Al-Sakhar, a stronghold of Kataib Hezbollah located about 50 kilometres south of Baghdad.
Kataib Hezbollah also plays a significant role in Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a coalition of armed factions initially formed to combat the Islamic State in 2014 and later recognized as an official security entity. Fighters from the group receive state salaries, and despite being officially under the command of the Iraqi prime minister as part of the PMF, Kataib Hezbollah often operates autonomously, at times contradicting and challenging the Iraqi government's directives regarding US forces.
Although Kataib Hezbollah does not openly acknowledge its political affiliations, it is widely believed to have fielded a political party in the 2021 elections, securing several seats in the Iraqi parliament. This development underscores the group's growing influence both militarily and politically within the region.