The Iran-backed Iraqi militia, Kataib Hezbollah (Hezbollah Brigades), and the Houthis in Yemen have issued (October 10) warnings to target US bases in Iraq and the surrounding region should US forces "interfere in the war between Palestinian groups and the IDF." In response to the evolving situation, the US has repositioned an aircraft carrier to the region to back Israel and has hinted at deploying another shortly.
Abu-Hussein al-Hamidawi, the militia’s secretary-general, proclaimed:
"Our ethical and religious obligation compels us to be on the frontline, heeding the divine directive: (Wage war against the idolaters). Just as they collectively oppose you, we are duty-bound to safeguard our people, including those in Gaza and other occupied regions, and to shield the downtrodden. Thus, our rockets, troops, and specialized units stand ready to launch targeted attacks against US interests should they interfere in this conflict. If deemed necessary, known outposts of the Zionist faction and its affiliates will be met with our retaliatory strikes.”
Echoing the sentiments of his superiors in Tehran, he penned: “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the valiant Palestinian people, our broader Islamic community, and the fighters of the Islamic Resistance in Palestine for their remarkable achievements in the face of the hostile actions of the Zionist group and its allies, are unparalleled.”
He continued, “They have shattered the might of the adversarial Zionists and elevated the conflict to an intensity that has instilled fear not only in the entity but also its detractors…This brave contingent has demonstrated that the fighters' determination surpasses the adversary's advanced technology and resources. It has also thwarted the aspirations of those who sought to establish false safety through alliances forged in Washington and Tel Aviv."
Abdulmalek al-Houthi, the head of Yemen's Zaidi insurgent group supported by Iran, declared the Houthis' readiness to offer military aid to Palestinian factions. He emphasized their full cooperation with fellow resistance and jihad axis members to contribute as needed. Al-Houthi cautioned that the group would join the Palestinian factions if certain boundaries, like direct US military involvement, were breached.
The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group has been deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, aiming to dissuade any entities from escalating or expanding the ongoing conflict. The group consists of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) equipped with its 8 specialized attack and support squadrons, the Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers including USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Carney (DDG 64), and USS Roosevelt (DDG 80).
The U.S. is further reinforcing its position with the swift deployment of U.S. Air Force F-15s, F-16s, and A-10s to supplement the existing air units in the vicinity. General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, the commander of U.S. Central Command, stated, "The presence of these advanced forces in the region sends a potent deterrent message to any adversary considering hostile actions against Israel during these turbulent times."
Established in 2007 by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who met his end alongside IRGC- Quds Force Qasem Soleimani in a 2020 US operation at Baghdad Airport, Kataib Hezbollah functions under the Shia-majority paramilitary alliance, Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF). Notably, this militia was among the first to send combatants to assist President Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian civil war.
US bases in Iraq and Syria have consistently faced attacks by Shia militias aligned with Iran, advocating for the US military's exit.