"The Still-Growing Threat of Iran's Chosen Proxy in Iraq" Topic

""The Americans begged us to only stop firing Ashtar rockets at their bases." Jaafar al-Husseini, the military spokesman for the Iraqi Shia militia Kata'ib Hizballah, was talking about attacking U.S. forces in Iraq before they left the country in 2011. While uttering these remarks in a February 2018 TV interview, he looked directly to the camera, as if to seem more assertive. Since then he has threatened U.S. forces on numerous occasions. The number of attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq has since increased, though with much less lethal weapons than the Ashtar rockets. The attacks, however, have been assessed by the United States to be dangerous enough that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threatened to shutter the American Embassy in Baghdad if the Iraqi government fails to stop them.

Kata'ib Hizballah has arguably become the most dangerous Iranian proxy in Iraq. It has engaged in myriad activities to protect and expand Iran's influence in Iraq and the wider region. It has helped suppress an anti-Iran nationalist Iraqi protest movement. It has used Iraqi territory to conduct attacks on a neighboring country and has openly intimidated and threatened the Iraqi prime minister, the commander in chief. The group's influence has expanded enormously in recent years, and the militia has become the most reliable proxy for Iran to further its ambitions in Iraq. In Lebanon, Hizballah plays this role. In Yemen, it is the Houthi Ansar Allah that helps Iran expand its influence. In Iraq, Kata'ib Hizballah is emerging as the main group that implements Iran's plans…"
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Amicalement
Armand

I remember critics of the Second Gulf War sounding the alarm over Iran's impending hegemony over Iraq if the Baath regime was removed and it appears increasingly evident that they were correct.

Iran was and continues to be a threat to that region.

Jaafar al-Husseini, the military spokesman for the Iraqi Shia militia Kata'ib Hizballah,

He is posturing, he and his "associates" must have forgotten what happened to Suilimani, etc. The Iraqis don't always like it when the US kills off some Jihadis, etc., in Iraq. But they really don't seem to have the ability to do it themselves.

With Iraq being 60% Shia, and Iran about 95% Shia. I suspect that may be one of the "obstacles". To taking care of Shia militias, jihadis, etc. in Iraq.

As well as most in Iraq and Iran have no love for the Kurds who are Sunni. That want their ancestral homeland back. To make their own nation. Which includes parts of both Iran and Iraq, etc.,.

Again religion and tribes continue to dominate the region …

Cut off the head of the snake and the body will die.

Seems there are many heads there…

Amicalement
Armand

Too many, they used to be called a target rich environment. But if we leave Iraq, that is what the Iranians want. And their threat will continues to grow.

As we see the Sunnis in the region are not doing much about them it appears. When they can just wait and let the US do the job … That seems to be one of there favorite tactics.