In a message on the occasion of Hajj, Khamenei on Saturday said the “resistance”, widely seen as Iran-affiliated militias, had forced the US and “its puppets” the Islamic State (ISIS) to retreat.
“The American propaganda effort to distort the will, demands and actions of the brave youth and forces of the Resistance in Syria, Lebanon and other countries and to ascribe them to Iran or any other reference point is an insult to those valiant, vigilant youth," Khamani said.
In April, Washington agreed to move its remaining combat troops out of Iraq, saying it was shifting to a training and advisory role. The technical talks are to develop a plan for the withdrawal, including a timeline. There are currently about 2,500 American troops in Iraq.
Iran-backed militias in Iraq have repeatedly attacked US interests and positions in the country to force their withdrawal. The militias stepped up their attacks after the US assassinated Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad last year. There have been almost 30 confirmed attacks on or near bases in Iraq and Syria since the beginning of 2021, according to data collected by Rudaw English.
The “resistance factions” often send contradictory messages regarding such attacks on foreign interests. They bless these attacks as part of the resistance movement against the “US occupation”, but at the same time, they deny their involvement in them.
The spokesperson of an Iran-backed militia Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, denied involvement in the drone attack on Erbil International Airport earlier this month, saying the militia has no interest in war.
However, the militia’s commander, Abu Alaa al-Walae, told The Associated Press that they will retaliate against America, and it will be “an open war”.
Iran-backed militias, primarily the one affiliated with Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF or al-Hashd al Shaabi) are also blamed for killing dozens of protesters, activists and journalists, in addition to sectarian reprisals against the Sunnis in their areas during the war on ISIS.
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