Iraqi militia warns U.S. against intervening in Israel-Iran conflict

BAGHDAD, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah vowed on Sunday to attack U.S. interests in the region if Washington intervenes in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.

"We are closely monitoring the movements of the American enemy army in the region. If America intervenes in the war, we will act directly against its interests and bases in the region without hesitation," Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, the group's secretary general, said in a statement.

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Sunday said it is aware of "the increased potential for foreign terrorist organization-inspired violence or attacks against U.S. businesses and locations frequented by U.S. citizens."

The embassy urged U.S. citizens in Iraq to avoid locations frequented by foreigners and any large gatherings or crowds.

In the pre-dawn hours of Friday, Israel launched a series of coordinated airstrikes targeting strategic locations across Iran. The two sides have exchanged several rounds of strikes since then, causing casualties and damages.

In February 2024, the U.S. military launched a strike in Iraq and killed a commander of Kataib Hezbollah, which it deemed "responsible for directly planning and participating in attacks on U.S. forces in the region." The strike was part of U.S. retaliation to a drone attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan in January 2024, in which three U.S. soldiers were killed and over 40 others were injured. Enditem