Military escalation in Iraq: Armed factions announce targeting US bases in response to attacks against Iran

Media sources affiliated with Iraqi armed factions reported on Saturday evening that military instructions had been issued to begin what they described as 'Islamic Resistance' operations against US facilities and bases in the country. The sources quoted a prominent leader in these factions as confirming that field groups had already begun carrying out a series of attacks since noon, indicating that the movements come as part of a comprehensive response to recent field developments.

This field escalation coincides with a wave of Israeli airstrikes, supported by the US, targeting vital sites in the Iranian capital Tehran and the cities of Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah. In response, Iranian authorities announced the launch of a large-scale military response that included swarms of drones and ballistic missiles, putting the region on the brink of a comprehensive regional confrontation.

In the context of political and military responses, Akram al-Kaabi, Secretary-General of Harakat al-Nujaba, issued a strongly worded statement threatening the US administration, led by Donald Trump, with dire consequences. Al-Kaabi affirmed that continuous American transgressions would not go unpunished, stressing that the factions would not remain silent regarding what he described as 'tyranny and excessiveness' in targeting the sovereignty and resources of the region.

Al-Kaabi emphasized in his speech the rejection of a neutral stance in this battle, considering that standing against aggression is the only option available to his fighters. He added that the battlefield would be the judge and arbiter, threatening to 'shake the earth' under the feet of foreign forces, affirming that the faction's fighters possess the determination and steadfastness necessary to face current military challenges, no matter the sacrifices.

For his part, Abdul Qadir al-Karbalai, the military assistant of Harakat al-Nujaba, participated in the wave of escalation through brief messages on social media platforms indicating combat readiness. Abu Alaa al-Walai, Secretary-General of Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, also published Quranic verses referring to permission to fight in response to injustice, in a clear indication of the factions' transition from the threat stage to the actual implementation stage.

In Babil province, Kata'ib Hezbollah Iraq threatened to launch direct attacks on US bases in response to the shelling that targeted the Jurf al-Nasr area. The brigades affirmed that targeting Iraqi sites and the fall of casualties among fighters and civilians opens the door to unprecedented reactions, holding US forces fully responsible for the repercussions of this security escalation.

Earlier on Saturday, the Jurf al-Nasr area was subjected to violent airstrikes that resulted in the death of two people and the injury of three others with varying degrees of wounds. These raids sparked a state of popular and political anger in Iraq, as local parties considered them a violation of national sovereignty and a blatant aggression that requires a deterrent response from the armed forces and their supporting factions.

The Iraqi arena is currently witnessing a major security alert around the bases that include American advisors and forces, for fear of being subjected to missile attacks or suicide drones. International circles are closely monitoring developments in Baghdad and Tehran, amid fears that the situation could slide into a long-term war of attrition affecting energy stability and security in the Middle East.

We will not stand neutral, and we will not be spectators to injustice and aggression, but we will shake the earth under your feet.