Kataib Hezbollah Vows Attacks on US Bases Amidst Regional Tensions

Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah announced plans to attack U.S. Military bases on Saturday, February 28, 2026, in response to what the group described as “American aggression,” as hostilities continue between the United States, Israel, and Iran. This declaration follows airstrikes targeting Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) headquarters in Jurf Al-Sakhr, north of Babil, Iraq, which resulted in casualties.

Recent Strikes and Escalation

Iraq’s Joint Operations Command confirmed the casualties from the airstrikes but did not identify the source. Reports indicate the strikes targeted sites linked to Kataib Hezbollah, a faction within the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) and the Iran-backed Axis of Resistance. Smoke was too reported near Erbil International Airport, which includes a military section used by U.S.-led Coalition forces. Four explosions were heard around Harir Air Base in Erbil Province, also hosting U.S. Forces, though details on damage or casualties remain unavailable.

Kataib Hezbollah’s Threat

According to a statement released by Kataib Hezbollah’s Operational Command on February 26, 2026, the group called on its members to prepare for a “war of attrition” potentially exceeding the estimates of the U.S. Administration. The statement warned that if the U.S. Were to escalate conflict in the region, it would face “immense losses.”

Warning to the Kurdistan Region

Kataib Hezbollah also warned the Regional Government of Iraqi Kurdistan against collaborating with “hostile foreign forces,” stating that such cooperation could threaten the region’s security and future. The specific entities considered “hostile foreign forces” were not explicitly defined.

Background on Kataib Hezbollah

Kataib Hezbollah (KH) is an Iranian-sponsored, anti-American Shiite militia operating in Iraq, with operations extending to Syria. The group gained notoriety during the U.S.-led war in Iraq beginning in 2003 for planting roadside bombs and using improvised rocket-assisted mortars (IRAMs) to attack U.S. And coalition forces. According to U.S. Diplomat Ali Khedery, KH was responsible for “some of the most lethal attacks against U.S. And coalition forces” during that period. The group is widely considered to be directly linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Regional Context

The threats from Kataib Hezbollah come amid increased tensions following U.S. And Israeli strikes on Iran, which triggered retaliatory missile and drone fire across the Middle East, with reported attacks on U.S. Bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.