Kataib Hezbollah, one of Iraq’s most powerful Iran-backed militias, has declared it will attack American military bases in retaliation for joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran launched on February 28, 2026. The group lost at least two fighters when airstrikes hit its Jurf al-Sakher base in southern Iraq, prompting a public statement that read: “We will soon begin attacking American bases in response to their aggression.” By March 1, that threat had already materialized, with Kataib Hezbollah and allied factions claiming over a dozen drone attacks against U.S. positions in Iraq and the broader region. This escalation did not come out of nowhere. Kataib Hezbollah had warned as early as January 2026 that it would strike U.S.
installations if the Trump administration launched military operations against Iran, using the phrase “Hands on our weapons” in a public declaration. The group also threatened to target the Strait of Hormuz if Washington joined an Iran-Israel war. Now that the scenario the militia outlined has come to pass, the consequences are unfolding rapidly across Iraq’s Kurdistan Region and beyond. This article examines the timeline of threats and attacks, the U.S. military footprint that remains in Iraq, internal divisions among Iraqi militia factions, and what this escalation means for American servicemembers and regional stability heading into the spring of 2026.
Table of Contents
- Why Is Kataib Hezbollah Threatening to Attack U.S. Bases in Iraq?
- What Attacks Have Already Been Carried Out Against U.S. Troops in Iraq?
- The U.S. Military Footprint in Iraq and Why Erbil Matters
- Internal Militia Divisions and the Political Calculation in Baghdad
- The January Warning Signs That Preceded This Crisis
- Iran’s Role in Coordinating Iraqi Militia Operations
- What Comes Next for U.S. Forces and Iraqi Stability
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is Kataib Hezbollah Threatening to Attack U.S. Bases in Iraq?
The immediate trigger was the February 28 joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes against iran, which marked a dramatic escalation in a conflict that had been simmering for months. Iran retaliated by targeting U.S. military assets across multiple Gulf Arab states on the same day, and the spillover into Iraq was nearly instantaneous. Airstrikes hit the Jurf al-Sakher base — also known as Jurf al-Nasr — a Kataib Hezbollah stronghold south of Baghdad. At least two of the group’s fighters were killed, and the militia’s leadership responded with a direct promise of retaliation against American forces. Kataib Hezbollah is not a fringe group.
It is one of the most established and operationally capable factions within Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces, the umbrella organization of mostly Shiite militias that were formally integrated into Iraq’s security apparatus after the fight against ISIS. The group has deep ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and has carried out attacks on U.S. forces before, most notably during the 2019-2020 escalation cycle that led to the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Its threat to attack U.S. bases is not rhetorical posturing from an unknown faction — it is a declaration from a militia with a demonstrated capacity to carry out such operations. Beyond calling for attacks, Kataib Hezbollah has demanded that Iraq’s government expel American forces entirely from the country and instructed its own fighters to prepare for what it described as a “long Iran-US war.” That language signals the group views this not as a brief skirmish but as the opening phase of an extended conflict.
What Attacks Have Already Been Carried Out Against U.S. Troops in Iraq?
The threats moved from words to action with striking speed. By March 1, 2026, three powerful militias — Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat Al Nujaba, and Sayyed Al Shuhada — had publicly announced military operations targeting U.S. troops in Iraq. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed Shiite militias that serves as a coordinating umbrella for these groups, claimed responsibility for over a dozen drone attacks against what it called “enemy bases in Iraq and the region.” The first confirmed strike came from Saraya Awliya Al Dam, an Iran-backed faction that used drones to hit U.S. forces stationed in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region. That attack marked the first entry of Iraqi militia forces into the active phase of the U.S.-Iran conflict.
Rockets were also launched at bases near Erbil, raising the threat level for American personnel who had been operating under a bilateral agreement that allows a continued U.S. military presence in the Kurdistan Region through much of 2026. However, it is worth noting that the scale and effectiveness of these initial attacks remain unclear. Claiming over a dozen drone strikes is not the same as confirming over a dozen successful hits, and the U.S. military has not publicly disclosed casualty figures or damage assessments as of this writing. If past cycles of militia attacks are any guide — particularly the 2023-2024 wave of drone and rocket strikes following the Gaza conflict — the actual impact of individual attacks varied enormously, from negligible near-misses to the deadly strike on Tower 22 in Jordan that killed three American soldiers. The gap between militia claims and battlefield reality is something to watch closely in the coming days.
The U.S. Military Footprint in Iraq and Why Erbil Matters
The U.S. military presence in Iraq has been drawing down under a bilateral agreement between Washington and Baghdad, with American forces withdrawing from the Baghdad-area facilities and Ain Al Asad air base. But the agreement explicitly allows a continued American military presence in Erbil through much of 2026, making the Kurdistan Region the primary hub for remaining U.S. operations in the country. That makes Erbil both strategically important and uniquely exposed. The city hosts a significant U.S. military contingent at a base adjacent to Erbil International Airport, and it has been targeted before.
In 2021, a rocket attack on the Erbil base killed a civilian contractor and wounded a U.S. service member. The Kurdistan Region has historically been more stable and permissive for American forces than central and southern Iraq, but that relative safety is now being tested as militias escalate operations specifically aimed at the remaining U.S. footprint. The timing creates a difficult situation for U.S. force protection planners. With the drawdown already in progress, there are fewer American troops in Iraq than at past peaks, but those who remain are concentrated in fewer locations — meaning each facility represents a higher-value target for militia groups looking to make a statement. The ongoing withdrawal also limits the retaliatory options available without committing additional forces to the theater.
Internal Militia Divisions and the Political Calculation in Baghdad
Not all of Iraq’s Iran-linked factions are responding to the U.S.-Iran escalation the same way, and understanding these divisions matters for predicting what comes next. Analysts tracking the militia landscape note a meaningful split between groups pursuing active military operations and those maintaining rhetorical solidarity with Iran while avoiding actions that could jeopardize their political positions. Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat Al Nujaba fall squarely in the first camp — they have launched drone strikes and publicly committed to sustained military operations against American targets. But other factions with seats in Iraq’s parliament and ties to the governing coalition face a tradeoff. Joining the fight against U.S. forces could trigger American retaliation that damages their political standing, their economic interests, and Iraq’s already fragile stability.
Staying on the sidelines risks losing credibility with their base and with Tehran. This dynamic played out during previous escalation cycles as well. In 2024, when the Islamic Resistance in Iraq was carrying out near-daily attacks on U.S. positions, some militia-linked political figures quietly worked to prevent the situation from spiraling into a direct confrontation with Washington that could destabilize the Iraqi government. Whether that restraining influence holds this time — when the conflict involves direct U.S. strikes on Iran rather than a proxy war in Gaza — is an open question with serious implications for Iraq’s political future.
The January Warning Signs That Preceded This Crisis
The February 28 attacks did not erupt without precedent. On January 18-19, 2026, Kataib Hezbollah issued a public warning that it would strike U.S. bases if the Trump administration launched military operations against Iran. The statement, which used the phrase “Hands on our weapons,” was widely reported but received relatively limited attention in mainstream U.S. media at the time. The group went further, threatening to target the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes — if the United States joined an Iran-Israel war.
That threat introduced an economic dimension to the militia’s posture that extends well beyond the immediate military confrontation in Iraq. Disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, even at a limited scale, could send global energy prices sharply higher and compound the economic consequences of the broader conflict. The fact that Kataib Hezbollah telegraphed its intentions more than a month before the February 28 strikes raises uncomfortable questions about whether the escalation was adequately planned for. Militia groups often make threats they do not follow through on, and U.S. intelligence analysts face the constant challenge of distinguishing genuine warnings from bluster. But the January statements were specific, conditional, and public — and the conditions they described have now been met.
Iran’s Role in Coordinating Iraqi Militia Operations
Kataib Hezbollah does not operate independently of Tehran. The group was founded with direct support from Iran’s Quds Force, and its operations have historically been coordinated with Iranian strategic objectives. The simultaneous activation of multiple Iraqi militia factions — Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat Al Nujaba, Sayyed Al Shuhada, and Saraya Awliya Al Dam all announcing operations within hours of each other — strongly suggests a degree of coordination from Tehran rather than independent decision-making by each group.
Iran’s own retaliatory strikes against U.S. military assets across Gulf states on February 28 set the context for the Iraqi militias’ actions. By activating its network of proxy forces in Iraq alongside its direct military response, Tehran is applying pressure on U.S. forces from multiple directions simultaneously — a strategy designed to complicate American defense planning and raise the cost of continued military engagement in the region.
What Comes Next for U.S. Forces and Iraqi Stability
The trajectory of this crisis depends on several factors that remain deeply uncertain. If the U.S.-Iran conflict escalates further, Iraqi militias are likely to intensify their attacks, potentially expanding beyond drone strikes and rockets to more sophisticated operations including roadside bombs targeting convoys or attempts to breach base perimeters. If diplomatic channels produce a ceasefire or de-escalation, the militias may pull back — but Kataib Hezbollah’s call to prepare for a “long war” suggests the group is not betting on a quick resolution.
For Iraq as a country, the renewed cycle of militia attacks on U.S. forces threatens to drag Baghdad into a conflict it did not choose. Iraq’s government has spent years trying to balance its relationships with Washington and Tehran, and the current crisis makes that balancing act nearly impossible. The coming weeks will test whether Iraq’s political institutions can absorb this pressure or whether the country becomes a full-fledged secondary front in a wider regional war.
Conclusion
Kataib Hezbollah’s threats against U.S. bases in Iraq have already crossed the line from rhetoric to action. The group and its allied factions have launched drone strikes against American forces in Erbil, claimed over a dozen attacks across the region, and declared their readiness for a prolonged conflict with the United States. The January warnings, the February strikes, and the March attacks form a clear escalation ladder that shows no signs of reversing as long as the U.S.-Iran military confrontation continues.
For readers tracking the intersection of U.S. government policy and its real-world consequences, this situation demands close attention. The decisions made by the Trump administration regarding Iran have activated a network of armed groups across Iraq that now pose a direct and immediate threat to American servicemembers. How Washington responds — whether through further strikes, diplomatic engagement, accelerated withdrawal, or some combination — will shape not only the outcome of the current crisis but the future of the U.S. military presence in the Middle East for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kataib Hezbollah?
Kataib Hezbollah is an Iraqi Shiite militia founded with support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It is one of the most powerful factions within Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces and has a long history of operations against U.S. military targets in Iraq. It is distinct from Lebanese Hezbollah, though both share ideological alignment with Iran.
How many U.S. troops are currently in Iraq?
The exact number is not publicly disclosed in current reporting. A bilateral U.S.-Iraq agreement has been drawing down American forces from Baghdad and Ain Al Asad, but a continued U.S. military presence in Erbil is authorized through much of 2026. The remaining footprint is smaller than past peaks but still significant enough to be targeted by militia groups.
Have U.S. troops been killed in the March 2026 attacks?
As of March 1, 2026, there have been no publicly confirmed U.S. casualty figures from the latest wave of militia drone strikes and rocket attacks. The U.S. military has not released detailed damage assessments from the Erbil-area attacks. This information may emerge in the coming days.
What is the Islamic Resistance in Iraq?
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq is an umbrella name used by a coalition of Iran-backed Shiite militias in Iraq to claim responsibility for attacks on U.S. and coalition targets. Member factions include Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat Al Nujaba, and several smaller groups. The coalition became particularly active during the 2023-2024 period following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict.
Could militia attacks on U.S. bases lead to a broader war in Iraq?
That is the central concern. If attacks intensify and the U.S. retaliates with strikes inside Iraq, it could fracture the Iraqi government, empower hardline factions, and effectively turn Iraq into a secondary front in the U.S.-Iran war. Internal divisions among militia groups — with some avoiding direct conflict to protect political gains — may provide a moderating influence, but the situation remains volatile.
What is the significance of the Strait of Hormuz threat?
Kataib Hezbollah threatened in January 2026 to target the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. joined an Iran-Israel war. Roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil passes through this waterway. Any disruption — even limited — could spike global energy prices and expand the economic fallout of the conflict well beyond the Middle East.