The United States sanctions Iran-aligned militia group Kata’ib Hezbollah in Iraq, accusing it of recent attacks against the US and its partners in Iraq and Syria. US and coalition troops have been attacked at least 58 times in the region since Oct. 17, with at least 59 US military personnel wounded in the attacks. Concerns rise over the Israel-Hamas conflict spreading through the Middle East, targeting US troops at bases in the region. The US Treasury Department imposes sanctions on six people affiliated with Kata’ib Hezbollah, including the group’s foreign affairs chief and a military commander who worked with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to train fighters. The Treasury’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson, sends a message to Kata’ib Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups, stating that the US will use all available measures to hold opportunistic actors accountable. The US remains committed to security and stability in the Middle East and is steadfast in efforts to disrupt destabilizing activities.
