US airstrike kills Iranian-backed militia leader in Iraq

U.S. forces killed a senior leader of an Iranian-backed militia in Iraq on Wednesday, Feb. 7. The U.S. carried out an airstrike in Baghdad, killing a commander of Kata’ib Hezbollah, who officials said was responsible for directly planning and participating in attacks on U.S. forces in the region.

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“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,” Central Command said in a post on X.

Officials said the latest strike was part of the retaliatory actions authorized by President Biden following the killing of three U.S. soldiers at a base in Jordan in January. In a statement, U.S. Central Command said the U.S. will continue to take “necessary action to protect our people.” It added there are “no indications of collateral damage or civilian casualties at this time.”

The U.S. said Kata’ib Hezbollah was behind the majority of the 168 attacks on U.S. military bases in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan. According to an ABC News report the militia group confirmed senior leader Abu Baqir Al-Saadi and two of his escorts were killed in the strike on Wednesday.