Fear in the Terrorism Camp; Iraqi Hezbollah Suspends Military Operations Against American Forces

Following reports of the United States' retaliatory response to a deadly attack on American forces in Jordan, the Hezbollah Brigades, an Iraqi armed group aligned with the Islamic Republic, announced in a statement that it has suspended all military operations against American forces in the region. The group claimed this decision was made to "prevent the Iraqi government from becoming agitated." Three American soldiers were killed on Sunday in a drone attack near the Jordan-Syria border. The U.S. Department of Defense, the Pentagon, stated that there is evidence of Hezbollah Brigades' involvement in that attack, although a final assessment has yet to be completed. According to Reuters, an Iraqi official who wished to remain anonymous said that Hezbollah Brigades made this decision after intense communications from the Iraqi government with American officials and Iraqi armed groups to prevent escalating tensions following the attack on the base hosting American forces in Jordan. This official commented on the deadly attack on the base hosting American forces in Jordan, stating: "It is clear that... they overstepped their bounds and (that attack) put everyone at a crossroads." Hezbollah Brigades, which was established after the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, is one of the main Iraqi armed groups and is considered the closest to the Islamic Republic of Iran. This group is the most powerful armed faction of the "Islamic Resistance of Iraq." The Islamic Resistance of Iraq is a coalition of radical Shia armed groups that have claimed responsibility for over 150 attacks on American forces since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October. Western and Iraqi officials say that the Iraqi government enjoys the support of parties and armed groups close to Iran, although this support does not directly come from the radical groups that fire at American forces. Baghdad condemned these attacks and stated that as long as the Gaza war continues, tensions in the region will persist. On Monday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin committed that the United States would take "all necessary actions" to defend its forces following the deadly drone attack in Jordan. Meanwhile, the administration of President Joe Biden emphasized that it is not seeking war with the Islamic Republic of Iran.