‘’We have made clear to Iran and its affiliated militia groups that attacks against US forces are unacceptable,’’ a State Department spokesperson told Rudaw via email on Thursday.
‘’We will not hesitate to take all appropriate actions to protect our personnel,” they added.
Iranian-backed groups in Iraq, known as the Islamic Resistance Group in Iraq, repeatedly have called for the full withdrawal of the US and coalition forces in Iraq, saying if no deadline is established for the US to fully withdraw, they will resume their attacks.
In addition to anti-American and anti-Western rhetoric and boycotts, several businesses like KFC and the British Cambridge Institute have been attacked in the Iraqi capital this year. The boycotts are in response to anti-Israel and pro-Palestine sentiment.
The State Department spokesperson reiterated that US and coalition forces are in Iraq “at the invitation of the Iraqi government to enable the enduring defeat of ISIS … that mission will transition to an enduring bilateral security partnership between Iraq and the United States.”
In January, the US and Iraq government inaugurated the Higher Military Commission (HMC) to determine the mission of defeating ISIS and the future of the US-led global coalition in Iraq.
‘’The Higher Military Commission discussions are still ongoing, and we have nothing to announce at this time,’’ the State Department spokesperson added.
It’s unclear whether the group has made any tangible progress or timetable agreements.
‘’That process is building upon previous bilateral strategic discussions on our mutual commitment to security cooperation and our shared interest in regional stability.’’ the State Department spokesperson concluded.
The Pentagon previously has said the HMC should provide updates in the first half of the year.
‘’Within the coming weeks, my understanding is that participants intend to have another principals meeting, where coalition leaders will receive a progress update,’’ the Pentagon press secretary, Major General Pat Ryder said June 18.
‘’Obviously, the groups are coming together to talk about very important things, to include, you know, one, what is the current threat that ISIS poses, what is the operating environment and looking at Iraqi Security Forces' capabilities,’’ he added.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a network of shadow Iraqi militia groups affiliated with the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has claimed responsibility for over 100 attacks targeting US interests in Iraq and Syria since mid-October, condemning Washington’s unwavering support for Israel in its war against the Gaza Strip. The group claimed responsibility for the drone strike on an American military base in Jordan in January.
The US government designated Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya (HAAA) which is a part of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, and its secretary-general as “Specially Designated Global Terrorists” earlier this month.
The HAAA was formed in 2014 as a brigade of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) or Hashd al-Shaabi following a fatwa by Iraq’s highest Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, at the start of the ISIS conflict. The PMF has been accused of threatening and targeting American interests in Iraq and Syria.
Through the ISIS conflict, the United States and the anti-ISIS coalition denied working with or de-conflicting with the armed group and its affiliates, citing their propinquity with Iran.
