Iraq’s Kata’ib Hezbollah threatens to up the ante if Blinken visits Baghdad

Iraq’s anti-terror resistance group Kata’ib Hezbollah has strongly reacted to the upcoming visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the capital Baghdad, threatening to spark an “unprecedented escalation” in case the top American diplomat touches down in the Arab country.

Abu Ali al-Askari, a senior security official with Kata’ib Hezbollah (Hezbollah Brigades), made the remarks in a statement on Saturday night, noting that the inhumane nature of the United States, Israel, Western countries and their regional allies have been exposed to the entire world in light of their involvement in the vicious attacks against Palestinians, especially women and children, in the Gaza Strip.

Askari added that Blinken, whom he referred to as the “war minister” of the Israeli regime, was not welcome in Iraq and that his group would adopt “unprecedented measures” in a show of strong protest at his visit.

He further said Kata’ib Hezbollah would work to “shut down American interests in Iraq,” would force the closure of the US Embassy in Baghdad and prevent US citizens from entering the country in a “non-peaceful” way.