Episode 283: Baghdad Drone Strike: Is the Biden Administration Getting Tough on Iran Proxies?

Today, Les, Morgan, and Jamil discuss the recent U.S. airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq that killed commander Abu Taqwa of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, an Iran backed militia group. This airstrike happened during a busy week for Middle East, with the continuation of the Israel-Hamas War in Gaza, Houthi forces’ attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea, and the recent ISIS bombing in Iran that killed 80 people. U.S. strikes in Iraq are a rare. While the U.S. states that the airstrike was necessary and proportional in the wake of recent attacks against U.S. forces stated in the Middle East, the Iraqi government argues that the strike is a breech of trust and sovereignty.

Is the U.S. airstrike a sign of a strengthened deterrence policy by the Biden Administration? Does the U.S. maintain credible deterrence in the region? What does the airstrike mean for the stability in the Middle East? How does this strike alter current U.S. policies and agreements with Iraq?

Check out the sources that helped shaped our experts discussion!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/01/04/us-strike-baghdad/

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-strike-kills-iran-backed-militia-leader-in-iraq-71256676

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/04/world/middleeast/us-drone-strike-baghdad-iraq.html

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/three-iran-backed-militia-fighters-killed-baghdad-drone-strike-sources-2024-01-04/

https://www.axios.com/2024/01/04/isis-iran-explosions-responsibility-kerman

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@lestermunson

@jamil_n_jaffer

@morganlroach

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