In a recent development, Iraqi armed factions have claimed responsibility for an early Saturday drone attack on oil refineries in Haifa, Israel. The factions, identifying themselves as “Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” stated in a concise announcement that the attack was in retaliation for the “Zionist massacres against unarmed Palestinian civilians” since the onset of the Gaza war between Palestinian armed factions and Israel.
These Iraqi factions have vowed to continue targeting Israeli objectives as a response to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which has been raging since October 7. Previously, these Iraqi groups have claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks on Israeli targets as well as on American forces in Iraq and Syria since the war in Gaza began.
This announcement coincides with recent threats from Iran, stating that an airstrike targeting its consulate in Damascus would not go unpunished. Ismail Kowsari, a member of Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee in the parliament and a former member of the Revolutionary Guards, hinted that various elements within what he termed the “Resistance Front” would respond, and if necessary, Iran itself would take action. This statement refers to Iran-aligned groups in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and elsewhere that have executed attacks since the Gaza war began, allegedly in retaliation, while the West accuses them of receiving Iranian support.
In the wake of an attack on Damascus, several Tehran-aligned militias in the region have mobilized. Iraqi armed factions announced on Tuesday that they had targeted the Israeli Tel Nof airbase with drones. The factions reiterated on Telegram that their attacks on Israel would continue, emphasizing that these strikes were in retaliation for the bombing of civilians in Gaza. Concurrently, the Houthi group in Yemen also mobilized, with the U.S. Central Command announcing the destruction of a Houthi drone boat on Tuesday.
Furthermore, a drone reportedly targeted the al-Tanf base in Syria, marking the first attack by Iraqi militias on American bases since last February, seemingly in response to the consulate strike, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Hezbollah in Lebanon also hinted at a forthcoming response to the consulate attack.
