According to Iraqi security forces, the headquarters of the Iraqi Hezbollah in Baghdad was stormed and 13 pro-Iranian fighters were arrested. Three rocket launchers are also said to have been confiscated.

Operation under pressure from the USA

The action against the extremely powerful militia in Iraq is most likely to have something to do with pressure from the USA, which for months has been trying to force Baghdad to take tougher action against attacks on US bases. Since October 2019 there have been more than 30 missile attacks on US army installations, US oil companies and the US embassy. In most cases, the attacks cause only minor damage, as they are carried out at random from a distance with unguided Katyusha missiles. In March, two US citizens and one British soldier were killed in such an attack at the Tajik base.

Action against own security apparatus

The action against the militia is explosive because the Kataib Hezbollah militia is part of the leadership circle of the People's Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi), which are an integral part of the Iraqi security forces. After the Hashd al-Shaabi deputy leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was killed by a US air strike, Abu Fadak al-Mohammedawi of the Hezbollah Brigades (Kataib Hezbollah) followed him into office. Al-Mohammedawi belongs to the founding core of the Iraqi Hezbollah.