US designates 6 Iranian-backed militants in Iraq
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The US Department of the Treasury designated on Friday six individuals of an Iranian-backed militia for directing a “spate” of attacks on the US and its partners in Syria and Iraq in the wake of the Oct. 7 conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Six individuals of the Kata’ib Hizballah, a militia based in Iraq, and supported, funded, and trained by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), were blocked access to US property and bank accounts and prevented from doing business with Americans.
Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson said that the US will take all “available measures” to hold account to “any opportunistic actors who seek to exploit the situation in Gaza for their own ends.”
The escalation by the Iranian-backed militias against US troops in Syria and Iraq has mounted since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict, following a surprise attack by Hamas.
Nelson stressed the US commitment to maintaining security and stability in the Middle East and also to curb “these destabilizing activities.”
The targeted individuals are: Imad Naji al-Bahadli, governing Shura Council of the militia, Habib Hasan Mughamis Darraji, serves as foreign affairs chief, Ja’afar al-Husayni, main media spokesmen, Khalid Kadhim Jasim al-Skeni, a senior military commander, Basim Mohammad Hasab al-Majidi, commercial development chief, Mojtaba Jahandust, Quds Force official.
On Nov. 16, the Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary, Sabrina Singh, said that Iranian-backed militias have launched 58 attacks against troops in Syria and Iraq since Oct. 7.