What to Know:
Abu Ala al-Walai, leader of the Iran-backed Shia militia Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, has released a statement calling on the Islamic Resistance in Iraq to begin its “second phase of their blessed operations,” which would include “enforcing the blockade on Zionist maritime navigation in the Mediterranean Sea, and removing the entity’s ports.”
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— ??? ???? ??????? (@aboalaa_alwalae) January 23, 2024
Context:
The statement followed United States airstrikes against Kataib Hezbollah, which were in retaliation to continued attacks by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq against American forces in the region, such as the rocket and ballistic missile attack against al-Asad Airbase over the weekend.
U.S. Forces Strike Kataib Hezbollah Capabilities in Iraq
In response to attacks by the Iranian-backed militia group Kataib Hezbollah (KH), including the attack on al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq on Jan. 20, on Jan. 24 at 12:15 a.m. (Iraq time), U.S. CENTCOM forces conducted… pic.twitter.com/rSnbQdlRD4— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 23, 2024
According to CENTCOM, the strikes targeted Kataib Hezbollah “headquarters, storage, and training locations for rocket, missile, and one-way attack UAV capabilities.”
Why it Matters:
The statement by al-Walai brings into question as to whether Iran-backed Shia militias in Iraq and Syria would back Houthi forces in their efforts to restrict shipping in the region by carrying out continued attacks against commercial vessels. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has already demonstrated the ability to target Israel directly through limited drone strikes, but would they be willing to increase these attacks as Israel faces escalation with Hezbollah that has the possibility of opening up a larger front with Lebanon. Kataib Hezbollah has already stated that it would back Hezbollah and the Houthis if need be, creating a more united front by the Axis of Resistance against Israel.
