{"id":2582186,"date":"2026-03-20T14:01:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T18:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-troops-are-fighting-iranian-backed-militias-in-iraq-in-addition-to-iran\/"},"modified":"2026-03-20T14:03:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T18:03:15","slug":"us-troops-are-fighting-iranian-backed-militias-in-iraq-in-addition-to-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-troops-are-fighting-iranian-backed-militias-in-iraq-in-addition-to-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"US troops are fighting Iranian-backed militias in Iraq in addition to Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fus-troops-are-fighting-iranian-backed-militias-in-iraq-in-addition-to-iran%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2582186&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The piece describes ongoing clashes between U.S. forces and Iranian-backed militias in Iraq as part of Operation Epic Fury, with groups such as Kataib Hezbollah firing rockets and drones at American troops and the U.S.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-war-fighting-near-northern-border-raises-fears-of-conflict-with-hezbollah-and-hamas\/\" title=\"...&#039;s northern border skirmishes raise concerns of conflict with ... and Hamas.\">conducting retaliatory strikes<\/a> to protect personnel. U.S. Central Command officials say the militias have not caused widespread injuries and that most wounded have returned to duty, while American forces have used Apache helicopters and other measures to suppress threats in the region. The broader conflict involving Iran, the U.S., and Israel is noted, with 13 U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/at-least-10-us-service-members-now-reported-killed-in-kabul-bombings-death-toll-likely-to-rise\/\" title=\"At Least 10 US Service Members Now Reported ... In Kabul Bombings, \u2018Death Toll Likely To Rise\u2019\">service members killed<\/a> and about 200 wounded across Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The article places the Iraqi militia attacks in the context of wider proxy activity from Iran, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthis in Yemen, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nick-sortor-has-misdemeanor-charge-dropped-after-portland-arrest\/\" title=\"Nick Sortor has misdemeanor charge dropped after Portland arrest\">mentions ongoing tensions<\/a> and limited hostilities connected to the larger war, such as ceasefire dynamics with Hezbollah and past attacks that killed U.S. personnel. It also references U.S. deployments and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >broader regional strikes aimed<\/a> at countering Iranian-backed forces.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">US troops are fighting Iranian-backed militias in Iraq in addition to Iran<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2538484\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>American forces have been targeted by and are retaliating against Iranian-backed militias in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iraq\">Iraq<\/a> in response to the war in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\">Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Kataib Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed militias have fired rockets and drones at U.S. troops since the start of Operation Epic Fury, Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4498655\/united-nations-secretary-general-guterres-israel-iran-war-crimes-energy\/\">UN chief: &#8216;Reasonable grounds&#8217; that Israel and Iran may have committed war crimes during war<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4497127\/when-trump-declare-victory-iran-war\/\">When will Trump be able to declare victory over Iran?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4498353\/us-deployment-thousands-marines-sailors-iran\/\">US speeds deployment of thousands more Marines and sailors to Middle East<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/military\">U.S. forces<\/a> have taken action in response to attacks from Iran-backed Iraqi militia groups against American forces and personnel since the start of Operation Epic Fury. We will not hesitate to protect our people,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>The fighting between the United States and Iranian-backed militias in neighboring Iraq has not been a widely discussed aspect of the war between Iran, the U.S., and Israel, which has gone on for nearly three weeks and has resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and roughly 200 more injured in&nbsp;Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4497440\/strikes-qatari-lng-facilities-threaten-global-supply\/\">&lsquo;DANGEROUS TERRITORY&rsquo;: STRIKES ON QATARI LNG FACILITIES THREATEN GLOBAL SUPPLY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A large majority of the injured American service members have returned to duty, indicating their injuries weren&rsquo;t severe.<\/p>\n<p>The Iraqi militias targeting U.S. troops in and near Iraq have not caused any &ldquo;significant injuries&rdquo; to American forces, a CENTCOM official told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, adding that the threat posed by the militias has had &ldquo;no impact&rdquo; on the U.S. military&rsquo;s mission in Iran. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignleft is-type-wp-embed is-provider-flourish wp-block-embed-flourish\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" title=\"Interactive or visual content\" src=\"https:\/\/flo.uri.sh\/visualisation\/27896451\/embed#?secret=tyPzrLBLZh\" data-secret=\"tyPzrLBLZh\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" height=\"575\" width=\"696\"><\/iframe> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Gen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dan-caine\">Dan Caine<\/a>, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Thursday that American AH-64 Apache helicopters have been striking the militia groups &ldquo;to make sure that we suppress any threat in Iraq against U.S. forces or U.S. interests.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Iran has spent decades supporting the various terrorist proxy groups in the Middle East that it has largely relied upon for its operations against Israel prior to Hamas&rsquo;s Oct. 7, 2023, attack, but Israel&rsquo;s military has systematically degraded those entities one by one over the past two and a half years.<\/p>\n<p>With several Iranian allies, Iraqi-based militias included, still reeling from their own conflicts with Israel, their responses to the war in Iran have been limited.<\/p>\n<p>Hezbollah, Iran&rsquo;s proxy in Lebanon, broke the ceasefire that had been in place for more than a year by launching rockets into southern Israel, which the group said was an attempt to avenge the death of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Renewed fighting subsequently broke out, and the Israel Defense Forces announced earlier this week that it began &ldquo;limited and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/where-things-stand-with-iran-war-in-its-third-week\/\" title=\"Where things stand with ... ... in its third week\">targeted ground operations&#038;rdquo<\/a>; targeting key&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hezbollah\">Hezbollah<\/a>&nbsp;strongholds in southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n<p>In November 2024, Israel and&nbsp;Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire, which called for Israel to stop its military campaign and to remove its ground forces in southern Lebanon in exchange for&nbsp;Hezbollah&nbsp;to willingly move all of its personnel and military equipment north of the Litani River, which would create a roughly 20-mile buffer in southern Lebanon separating the U.S.-designated terrorist group from the Lebanese-Israeli border.<\/p>\n<p>Hezbollah&nbsp;has not lived up to its end of the deal, which was actually built on the proposal that ended the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war, and Israel has continued bombing Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-canva wp-block-embed-canva\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"US military bases + Iran nuclear\/missile facilities\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canva.com\/design\/DAHDdxAvx4w\/x3gJ7kNtOgaAO_frIElONA\/view?embed&amp;meta\" height=\"464\" width=\"696\" style=\"border: none; border-radius: 8px; width: 696px; height: 464px;\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" allow=\"fullscreen\"><\/iframe> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Neither Hezbollah nor the Yemen-based Houthis have fired at U.S. forces since the war in Iran began on Feb. 28, the CENTCOM official said.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4497645\/us-confidence-location-iran-enriched-uranium-tulsi-gabbard\/\">US HAS &lsquo;HIGH CONFIDENCE&rsquo; IN LOCATION OF IRAN&rsquo;S ENRICHED URANIUM: GABBARD<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The U.S. military carried out a weekslong campaign against the Houthis last year, and under the Biden administration, carried out multiple iterations of aerial strikes against the Houthis and Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, who were firing rockets and drones at U.S. bases and personnel in the two countries.<\/p>\n<p>An Iraqi militia <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4478100\/counter-drone-defense-spotlighted-american-casualties-iran\/\">killed three American service members<\/a> and injured more than 40 others at Tower 22, a small American outpost in the northeastern part of Jordan, in a January 2024 drone attack.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>U.S. forces clash with Iran-backed militias in Iraq<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2671,"featured_media":2582187,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26078643524776.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3823,17259,76246,74838],"class_list":["post-2582186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-iran","tag-iraq","tag-militias","tag-us-troops-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26078643524776.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582186","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2671"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2582186"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582186\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2582190,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582186\/revisions\/2582190"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2582187"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2582186"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2582186"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2582186"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}