The Iran-backed Iraqi paramilitary group Kataib Hezbollah has announced that it will temporarily stop all military operations targeting American troops, as reported by local media outlets. This decision comes after the Pentagon implicated the group, which is identified as a terrorist organization by the U.S., in a drone attack that resulted in the death of three U.S. soldiers and left more than 40 others injured in Jordan over the weekend. Although President Joe Biden has indicated that the U.S. will respond to the attack, the group has stated that it is halting attacks on U.S. troops “to avoid causing problems for the Iraqi government”.Since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war in October, Iranian-backed proxies have been carrying out numerous attacks in the Middle East, including more than 150 assaults on American targets in Iraq and Syria. The recent attack in Jordan, targeting a logistics base known as Tower 22, marked the first confirmed enemy attack resulting in American casualties since the start of the Gaza conflict.The Biden administration, along with other governments, has been working to ease tensions in the region in an effort to prevent the Israel-Gaza conflict from escalating into a larger war. In response to previous attacks, the United States had targeted multiple Kataib Hezbollah facilities. Additionally, the U.S. has conducted strikes against Houthi targets in the Red Sea in response to attacks on shipping lanes by Houthi rebels. Earlier this month, two U.S. Navy SEALS lost their lives during an operation aimed at intercepting Iranian weapons intended for the Houthi rebels. Since the drone attack in Jordan, President Biden has held several meetings with his national security team to plan the next course of action. As of Tuesday morning, the White House had not made a decision on how to respond to the attack, according to a report from a White House pool.Biden has reiterated the U.S.’s stance of not seeking a broader conflict in the Middle East, despite preparations for a retaliatory response to the Jordan attack. “I don’t think we need a wider war in the Middle East. That’s not what I’m looking for,” stated President Biden. It remains unclear how the announcement from Kataib Hezbollah will impact or alter the planned response by the administration. The White House has not yet provided a comment on the matter. The Pentagon has expressed skepticism regarding the group’s statement. “Actions speak louder than words,” remarked Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder when addressing reporters on Tuesday.
