Iraq’s security forces raid HQ of prominent Iran-backed militia

The Kataib Hezbollah militia’s headquarters in southern Baghdad was raided on Thursday. Two of its three commanders were detained, and a supply of rockets seized. The Iranian-backed militias have hitherto been powerful enough to pay no heed to Iraq’s national security forces. The rocket campaign this year against US bases and diplomatic facilities in Iraq drew from new prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi a commitment to be tough with those responsible. The raid on the militia’s base was Baghdad’s first overt operation in years against an Iranian proxy.