U.S. strikes senior leader of Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq, unleashing response

In a significant development, the U.S. carried out a strike in Iraq, killing a senior leader of the Iran-backed group Kataib Hezbollah, confirmed by a top U.S. official.

The targeted individual was a commander responsible for operations in Syria. The strike is part of the response promised by President Biden following a deadly drone attack in Jordan, which claimed the lives of three U.S. soldiers and left numerous others wounded.

Previous strikes

This strike came after the U.S. hit over 85 targets in Iraq and Syria, including command and control operation centers, missiles, and rockets used by militia groups and their sponsors, the Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. As per U.S. Central Command, this was a part of the retaliation initiated last Friday.

Escalating tensions

Notably, there have been at least 168 attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan by Iranian-backed militia groups since Oct. 17. The Pentagon's data reveals that these attacks have resulted in the deaths of three U.S. service members, with two seriously injured, nine sustaining significant injuries, and 132 others suffering non-serious injuries. Source: Eleanor Watson, Pentagon correspondent for CBS News