Shafaq News- Baghdad
Kataib Hezbollah, one of Iraq's most powerful Iran-alignedarmed factions, warned Sunday that it would strike American militaryinstallations across the region if the United States intervenes directly in theescalating conflict between Iran and Israel.
The warning came hours after Iran launched four successivewaves of ballistic missiles at Israel, driving Israelis in northern and centralIsrael into shelters. Tehran said the strikes were in retaliation for Israelibombardment of Beirut's southern suburbs.
"If America intervenes in this confrontation, we willtarget its bases and interests," the group said in a brief statementissued from Baghdad.
: Iraq after the regional ceasefire: US bases and unresolved political questions
Between February 28 and April 8, Kataib Hezbollahparticipated in attacks on US forces stationed in Iraq and neighboringcountries as part of a broader confrontation between Iran and American andIsraeli forces.
Kataib Hezbollah rejected calls to disarm, conditioning anysuch move on the withdrawal of US forces and other foreign troops from Iraq,and stating that its weapons would "remain in the hands of itsfighters." The group, along with Harakat al-Nujaba and Ashab al-Kahf, hassince maintained that position, rejecting disarmament without preconditions.
: How the US pushed Iraq's armed factions toward disarmament, and who is still pushing back
