Reuters Report on Qaani's Role in Halting Attacks on American Forces in Iraq and Syria

Multiple Iranian and Iraqi sources told Reuters that the commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard visited Baghdad last month and convinced Tehran-aligned groups to stop attacks on American forces. According to these sources, Reuters reports that 'this is a sign that Tehran wants to avoid a wider conflict.' The report states that Ismail Qaani met with representatives of several armed groups at Baghdad Airport on January 29 (Bahman 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 Iran-influenced groups that spilling American blood carries the risk of a heavy U.S. response, including attacks on their senior commanders, destruction of key infrastructure, or even direct retaliation against Iran. All but one group immediately agreed to Qaani's request, and the next day, Kata'ib Hezbollah announced that it would suspend attacks. A smaller but very active group, al-Nujaba, stated that it would continue its attacks, arguing that U.S. forces 'will only leave there by force.' A senior Iraqi security source also told Reuters that Qaani did not leave the airport for fear of being targeted in the same place where Qassem Soleimani was killed four years ago. According to Reuters, since February 4 (Bahman 15), there have been no attacks on American forces in Iraq and Syria, compared to over 20 attacks in the two weeks prior to Qaani's visit, which was part of an increase in violence from groups opposing the war in Gaza. One senior commander of an Iranian-aligned Iraqi armed group stated, 'Without Qaani's direct intervention, convincing Kata'ib Hezbollah to stop its military operations to reduce tensions would have been impossible.' This source noted, 'The Iranians have learned from Soleimani's destruction and did not want this to be repeated.' A senior Iranian security official told Reuters, 'Qaani's trip was successful, but not entirely, as not all Iraqi groups agreed to de-escalation.' The United States holds the Islamic Resistance group in Iraq responsible for the deadly attack that killed three American soldiers and, in its first round of retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed militants in Iraq and Syria, killed over 40 of them. Over the years, Iran's proxy Shiite groups have carried out numerous attacks against U.S. positions and bases in the region, 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. The U.S. response to the unveiling of missile systems in Iran: We will use all 'deterrence tools.' Exclusive interview with Voice of America with Robert Spalding, retired Air Force General. Politico: Some Arab governments are limiting U.S. access for operations against Iran's proxies. The U.S. has expanded sanctions related to Iran. The U.S. response to the Islamic Republic's missile test: It has no effect on U.S. regional decisions. The continuation of the Islamic Republic's destabilizing actions in the region; the IRGC fired missiles from 'on a vessel.' The U.S.-led coalition neutralized attacks by Iran-backed militants in eastern Syria.