In a dangerous escalation of tensions, the Iraqi government has condemned the recent U.S. airstrikes south of Baghdad that resulted in the death of eight members of the Iran-aligned Iraqi armed group Kataib Hezbollah. The strikes were carried out without coordination with the Iraqi authorities, according to a statement released by the government on November 22.

These airstrikes mark the second series of attacks by the United States in Iraq since Tuesday, in response to over 60 attacks perpetrated by Iran-aligned militias against regional forces. The U.S. airstrikes destroyed a Kataib Hezbollah operations center and a command and control node.

Until now, the United States had been reluctant to respond militarily in Iraq due to the delicate political situation in Baghdad and their efforts to build closer cooperation. Additionally, they aimed to avoid any regional spillover from the recent conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Previously, the U.S. had conducted three separate sets of strikes in Syria as a response to attacks that began on October 17. These attacks were linked by Iraqi militia groups to U.S. support for Israel during its bombardment of Gaza following a series of attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Kataib Hezbollah, based in the stronghold of Jurf al-Sakhar south of Baghdad, confirmed that eight of their members were killed in the strikes.

Iraq's government strongly condemned the U.S. airstrikes, calling them a violation of sovereignty and an attempt to disrupt the stable internal security situation. The government also highlighted that armed group attacks were contrary to Iraq's national interests. They emphasized that the airstrikes violated the advisory role of international forces in Iraq, who are primarily fighting remnants of the Islamic State militant group.

Just 24 hours before the U.S. strikes, American forces were targeted with close-range ballistic missiles at the Ain al-Asad airbase west of Baghdad. The attack resulted in eight injuries and minor infrastructure damage. In response, a U.S. military AC-130 aircraft engaged in self-defense and killed Iranian-backed militants, as confirmed by U.S. officials.

Kataib Hezbollah reported the death of one of its members in this strike. The group is a part of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a coalition of mainly Shiite Muslim armed groups formed in 2014 to combat the Islamic State. The PMF has been officially recognized as a security agency by Iraq's government.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has limited control over some Iran-backed factions that helped him secure power last year. These factions now form a powerful bloc within his governing coalition. However, there is a lack of consensus among these factions regarding actions against U.S. forces.

Currently, the United States has approximately 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq. Their mission is to advise and assist local forces in preventing a resurgence of the Islamic State, which had seized significant territory in both countries in 2014 before being defeated.

The recent U.S. airstrikes in Iraq have further strained the already delicate balance in the region and unleashed a wave of condemnation from the Iraqi government. The situation remains tense as both sides navigate the complex political landscape in an effort to avoid further escalation.