An Iranian-backed militia group in Iraq claims it does not seek to escalate tensions in the region

One of the senior leaders of an Iranian-backed militia group in Iraq said on Saturday, February 3, that this group does not seek to escalate tensions. These remarks by Hussein al-Mousavi, spokesman for the group known as "Nujaba Islamic Resistance Movement," one of the militia groups forming the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq, came in response to U.S. retaliatory strikes on dozens of sites of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian-backed militia groups in Iraq and Syria. In an interview with the Associated Press in Baghdad, al-Mousavi condemned the U.S. attacks, stating that Washington "must understand that every action has a reaction," but in a more conciliatory tone, he said, "We do not want to escalate or expand regional tensions." Syrian state media reported that the U.S. attacks caused significant casualties and damage, but did not provide further details. Rami Abdulrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights based in the UK, stated that 23 people were killed in the attacks in Syria, all of whom were senior officials of militia groups. Additionally, the Iraqi government spokesman stated that following the attacks in the country near the Syrian border, 16 people were killed, some of whom were civilians. U.S. President Joe Biden, following the operations of the U.S. military in Iraq and Syria, stated, "The attacks were carried out at my direction and will continue at other times and places, wherever we want." Biden added, "On Friday afternoon, at my direction, U.S. military forces targeted sites and facilities in Iraq and Syria that the IRGC and its affiliated militias were using to attack American forces." He further stated, "The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world, but all those who seek to harm the people must know that if you harm an American, we will respond." According to the Associated Press, an American official said on Saturday that initial assessments indicated that the U.S. had struck each of its planned targets as well as several "potential targets" identified during the operation, including a surface-to-air missile site and drone launch sites. Reuters also reported that in the U.S. retaliatory strikes in Iraq and Syria, over 85 positions related to the IRGC and Iranian-affiliated militias were targeted, resulting in approximately 40 deaths. The U.S. holds the group known as "Islamic Resistance Movement in Iraq," an alliance of Iranian-backed militias, responsible for drone attacks on the "Tower 22" base in Jordan on January 28, which killed three American soldiers and injured about fifty others. Meanwhile, the Iranian-affiliated Popular Mobilization Forces announced on Saturday that one of its positions targeted was the group's public security headquarters. According to this militia group, in addition to 16 dead, 36 were also injured, and "the search for the bodies of several missing persons continues." Iranian-backed Iraqi militias, calling themselves the "Islamic Resistance Movement in Iraq," many of whose members are also from the Popular Mobilization Forces, began their attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria on October 18, one week after the Iranian-backed Hamas attacks on Israel. The Iraqi government spokesman described the U.S. attacks as a violation of Iraq's national sovereignty. The Syrian Foreign Ministry stated that what the U.S. committed "dangerously escalates tensions in the Middle East." Moscow also expressed the same position. In the statements of these three countries, there was no mention of the attacks by Iranian proxy militia groups, including in the Red Sea region, Iraq, and Syria. On the other hand, London stated, "Britain and the United States are steadfast allies. We do not comment on their operations, but we support their right to respond to attacks." Britain also emphasized that "we have long condemned the destabilizing activities of the Iranian regime throughout the region, including political, financial, and military support for militia groups." According to the Polish Foreign Minister, "Iranian proxy forces have been playing with fire for months and years, and now they are burning in it." The Austrian Foreign Minister also emphasized the U.S. viewpoint, stating, "I believe those who attack U.S. bases should know that they are indeed pouring oil on the fire. Our common goal should be to prevent the spread of fire at all costs." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the United States is "doing an extraordinary job of containing the crisis where it is, so it does not spread to the entire region." The U.S. retaliatory strikes against the Quds Force and Iranian proxy militias also elicited varied reactions among American lawmakers. Republican Senator Tom Cotton criticized President Biden's policy toward Iran on the messaging platform "X," stating, "President Reagan sank half of his Navy in response to threats from the Iranian regime. President Trump killed Qassem Soleimani. But in contrast, President Biden's weak response, along with billions of dollars, has only emboldened the ayatollahs." On the other hand, Democratic Senator Tim Kaine said, "Iranian-backed militia groups killed three American soldiers and injured many others. While we do not want to escalate tensions unnecessarily, when the United States and our military have been killed and injured, we are obligated to hold those responsible accountable."