Iraqi security forces raid militia headquarters
A group of Iraqi counterterrorism forces raided a headquarter of a militia in southern Baghdad, arresting some of its personnel and confiscating rocket launchers allegedly prepared for attacks against US bases.
The Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) raided a headquarter of the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah in the Dora district in southern Baghdad early Friday morning. CTS confiscated a number of rocket launchers and arrested dozens of militia members.
The rocket attacks against US bases have increased significantly recently, especially after the assassination in January of Iran’s top commander Qasem Soleimani and his right-hand man Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. A further rise in attacks came when the new Iraqi government decided to open a strategic dialogue with the United States on their bilateral relations; the first session was held June 11 and the next session is expected to held in Washington next month, in the presence of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. The targets of the recent attacks include the US Embassy in the heavily fortified Green Zone, a US military base near Baghdad International Airport and Taji military base north of Baghdad.
