Iraqi militia claims attack on US convoy in Baghdad

An Iraqi militia, believed to have recently been established, claimed Tuesday an attack which targeted a US military convoy in Baghdad, citing casualties in the bombing.

The so-called International Resistance Faction, allegedly linked to the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah, said in a statement that it carried out an "operation inside the fortifications of the (American) occupation inside the Baghdad Airport at 11pm (8pm GMT) on Monday evening."

The statement, published by the Iranian Mehr News Agency, said "the operation targeted a convoy of logistical support for the American forces, including four cars, one of which was damaged," claiming that American soldiers were killed and wounded.

A convoy of the US-led military alliance was targeted by an explosive device overnight Monday.

Iraqi authorities have not issued an official statement over the attack, however a security source in Baghdad told The New Arab’s sister site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, that several statements of these armed militias were false.

"The armed factions are now aware of the consequences of killing any American in Iraq, and the magnitude of the US response to any attack, so the current operations you are talking about are ineffective" and are merely media stunts, the source said.

Platforms affiliated to Iran-backed militias in Iraq issued a statement on the instant app Telegram, offering a financial reward for anyone who can provide information on US intelligence officers, as well as anyone linked to the Israeli Mossad in Iraq.

The move is likely to be in response to a similar $3 million reward by the US to anyone who reports on planned attacks or information on previous attacks targeting American facilities in Iraq.

Military bases housing US and other foreign troops, such as the Balad air base west of Baghdad, have frequently been targeted in the war-torn nation.