Israel-Hamas war: American forces launch strikes at Kataib Hezbollah targets in Iraq
Fighters lift flags of Iraq and paramilitary groups, including al-Nujaba and Kataib Hezbollah, during a funeral in Baghdad for five militants killed a day earlier in a US strike in northern Iraq, on December 4, 2023. (Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images)
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that American forces conducted airstrikes against Kataib Hezbollah facilities in Iraq on Christmas Day.
The airstrikes were in retaliation against attacks by Kataib Hezbollah terrorists earlier on Monday.
"Earlier in the day, Iranian sponsored Kataib Hezbollah terrorists and affiliated groups attacked coalition forces at Erbil, Iraq resulting in several injuries," a press release from CENTCOM read. "Early assessments indicate that these U.S. airstrikes destroyed the targeted facilities and likely killed a number of Kataib Hezbollah militants."
"There are no indications that any civilian lives were affected," the statement added. "The U.S. military will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of these strikes."
CENTCOM General Michael Erik Kurilla said in a statement that the airstrikes are intended to hold regional actors "accountable."
"These strikes are intended to hold accountable those elements directly responsible for attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria and degrade their ability to continue attacks," Kurilla said. "We will always protect our forces."
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