U.S. Strike Kills Kata’ib Hezbollah Commander in Baghdad

U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) announced on X that it conducted an airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq, and killed a senior leader in Kata’ib Hezbollah. The strike was in response to the attacks that killed three U.S. service members on January 28 in Rukban, Jordan.

In the announcement on X, USCENTCOM stated:

USCENTCOM Conducts Strike Killing Kata’ib Hezbollah Senior Leader At 9:30 p.m. (Baghdad Time) February 7, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted a unilateral strike in Iraq in response to the attacks on U.S. service members, killing a Kata’ib Hezbollah commander responsible for directly planning and participating in attacks on U.S. forces in the region. There are no indications of collateral damage or civilian casualties at this time. The United States will continue to take necessary action to protect our people. We will not hesitate to hold responsible all those who threaten our forces’ safety.

Iran International identified the target of the airstrike as Abu Baqir Al-Saadi, stating on X, “#BREAKING Abu Baqir Al-Saadi who was killed in the US airstrike is responsible for the missile system in the Kataib Hezbollah, sources told Al-Arabiya.”