US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Wednesday said an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias was behind a drone attack on a US base in Jordan that killed three US servicemembers and injured dozens more.
The "attribution that our intelligence community is comfortable with is that this was done by the umbrella group" Islamic Resistance in Iraq, Kirby told reporters at the White House.
The Pentagon had said previously the attack bore the "footprint" of "Kataib Hezbollah," one of the Iran-aligned militant outfits included in the umbrella group.
Kirby said US President Joe Biden was continuing to consider options on how to retaliate to the attack, but added "the first thing you see won't be the last thing" It "won't be a one-off."
US think tank, the Washington Institute, said in a report that the group's focus is on US targets in Iraq and Syria, which stems from the role of the US in the Israel-Hamas war.
It added that the group has claimed responsibility for over 20 attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria since October 17.
The report said one tactic used by the group — and other Iranian-supported militias — was to remain a "a generic, no-logo brand" to avoid accountability for attacks on Americans.
"The militias may see benefit in obscuring which exact groups are attacking US bases," it added.
On Tuesday, Kataeb Hezbollah announced the "suspension of military and security operations" against US troops in the region, saying they wished to "avoid any embarrassment for the Iraqi government."
Second publication by courtesy of DW
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