An Iraqi Group Complains of Betrayals, Declares That the Halt of Attacks Was 'Tactical' and 'A Storm Is Coming'

According to reports from Iran, the Secretary-General of the 'Nujaba Movement' in Iraq stated in a statement that the halt of attacks by Iranian proxy groups on American positions was a 'temporary tactic' and threatened that 'a storm is coming.' In this statement, which the Nujaba office in Tehran provided to Iranian news agencies, it was mentioned that 'the exit of the U.S. from Iraq through dialogue is an illusion.' This group, part of the 'Islamic Resistance of Iraq,' announced that the halt of attacks was a temporary tactic for 'regaining position and reorganizing forces,' which was adopted due to 'the presence of mercenaries and traitors who provided some resistance information to the Americans' and claimed that 'this is the calm before the storm.' After an attack by Iranian-backed militia forces on an American base in Jordan that resulted in the deaths of three American soldiers, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on February 3 that it had targeted the Quds Force and its affiliated militia groups in Iraq and Syria with airstrikes. CENTCOM emphasized that the targeted centers were points that facilitated attacks against American and coalition forces. Following these attacks, Iranian-backed groups, including the Resistance of Iraq, halted their actions against American bases and positions. Reuters reported on February 18 that Ismail Qaani, the commander of the Quds Force, met with representatives of several armed groups at Baghdad Airport on January 29 (February 9), less than 48 hours after Washington accused these groups of killing three American soldiers at Tower 22 base in Jordan. According to these sources, Qaani told the groups under Iran's influence that by shedding American blood, there is a risk of a heavy U.S. response, including attacks on their senior commanders, destruction of key infrastructure, or even direct retaliation against Iran. The Reuters report stated that all but one group immediately agreed to Qaani's request, and the next day, Kata'ib Hezbollah announced that it would suspend its attacks. A smaller but very active group, Nujaba, stated that it would continue its attacks, arguing that U.S. forces 'will only leave there by force.' The United States holds the Islamic Resistance group in Iraq responsible for the deadly attack that resulted in the deaths of three American soldiers and, in its first round of retaliatory attacks against Iranian-backed militants in Iraq and Syria, killed over 40 of them. Iranian proxy Shiite groups have carried out numerous attacks against American positions and bases in the region over the past years, but the intensity and frequency of these attacks have significantly increased following the terrorist attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7. Ilan Berman: The Islamic Republic and its proxy groups have instigated the current war in the Middle East. Israel warns 'the head of the snake' and Hezbollah in Lebanon: Our patience is running out. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported a missile attack on the U.S. base in the 'Al-Omar' oil field in Syria. Reuters reported on Qaani's role in halting attacks on American forces in Iraq and Syria. Politico: Some Arab governments are limiting U.S. access for operations against Iranian proxies. The U.S. response to the Islamic Republic's missile test: It has no effect on U.S. regional decisions.