A targeted US military drone strike in Baghdad on Wednesday killed a Kataib Hezbollah commander, Wisam Mohammed Saber al-Saedi, who was responsible for orchestrating attacks against American forces in the region. The strike, confirmed by US Central Command, was executed in the evening local time and specifically targeted a vehicle in the Al-Mashtal neighborhood, known for its Shia majority.
“At 9:30 p.m. (Baghdad Time) February 7, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted a unilateral strike in Iraq in response to the attacks on U.S. service members, killing a Kata’ib Hezbollah commander responsible for directly planning and participating in attacks on U.S. forces in the region,” the US Central Command in a statement said.
According to US and Iraqi officials, there were no reported collateral damages or civilian casualties resulting from the strike. Central Command reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of its forces, stating, “We will not hesitate to hold responsible all those who threaten our forces’ safety.”
Kataib Hezbollah, in response to al-Saedi’s death, released a statement mourning his loss and calling for perseverance in their cause. Meanwhile, local police officials confirmed the strike, affirming its location in the eastern Baghdad neighborhood.
It is pertinent to note that this strike comes amidst escalating tensions between the US and Iran-backed militants, particularly following a recent drone attack on a US outpost in Jordan, which resulted in the deaths of three American soldiers. The US has attributed this attack to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias. Sources suggest that this strike in Baghdad is part of the retaliatory measures authorized by President Joe Biden in response to the Jordan attack.
Meanwhile, Iraq’s Joint Operations Command expressed condemnation of the strike, viewing it as a fresh act of aggression by the United States. Spokesperson Tahseen Al Khafaji underscored that such actions undermine the existing understandings between Iraq and the US, hinting at potential diplomatic repercussions in the region.
