In recent developments, the United States conducted a drone strike that resulted in the elimination of a prominent leader of Hezbollah. This action has added fuel to an ongoing battle between various factions involved in the conflict. The Pentagon has confirmed that the MQ-9 Reaper drone was responsible for the strike, which targeted Abu Bakr al-Saidi, a key figure within Qutb Hezbollah. The U.S. government holds al-Saidi accountable for orchestrating attacks on American bases in Syria, including a deadly drone strike on a U.S. outpost in Jordan.
President Biden authorized the drone strike in response to the attack on Tower 22, where three American soldiers lost their lives and 41 others were injured. Mohammed Sabir al-Saidi, a Qutb Hezbollah commander, was specifically targeted due to his direct involvement in planning and participating in assaults against U.S. forces in the region. It is important to note that Qutb Hezbollah is an Iraqi Shia militia affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). The PMF was initially formed to combat ISIS and had received funding from the late Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. However, Soleimani was himself killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2020, along with another leader of Qutb Hezbollah at the time.
Following the defeat of ISIS in Iraqi cities, Qutb Hezbollah and other Shia militias were assimilated into the Iraqi military, with their salaries being paid by the government. The recent drone strike raises concerns about potential repercussions on the ongoing discussions between the United States and the Iraqi government regarding the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq. Moreover, since the U.S. military began its response to the attack that claimed the lives of three Americans, no Iranian proxy groups have launched assaults on U.S. bases within Iraq. It should be noted, however, that a few attacks by these proxies have occurred in Syria.
The targeted killing of the Qutb Hezbollah leader in Iraq, who was allegedly responsible for the attacks on U.S. forces in Syria, could potentially disrupt the current status quo. The elimination of this key figure may influence the actions and intentions of Iranian proxy groups operating in the region. As the situation continues to unfold, many will be closely watching the repercussions of this drone strike and the possible impact it may have on the discussions between the United States and Iraqi government regarding the presence of U.S. troops in the region.
