Baghdad [Iraq], June 20: As the Middle East teeters on the brink of a broader war, Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shia militia, has issued a stern warning to the United States, threatening to launch attacks on American military bases across the region if Washington formally joins the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, CNN reported.
“If the United States enters this war, the deranged [President] Trump shall forfeit all the trillions he dreams of seizing from this region,” said Abu Ali al-Askari, security chief of Kataib Hezbollah, in a statement Thursday.
He warned that American military installations would become “duck-hunting grounds” and added that key maritime routes — notably the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb — would be shut down, disrupting global energy supply chains.
Al-Askari also hinted at potential air attacks, saying U.S. aircraft could face “unforeseen surprises” in the skies.
Background and Strategic Context
The U.S. military currently operates at least 27 bases in the Middle East, with 12 of them in continuous use for over 15 years. Many of these facilities are located in Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and the Gulf states.
Kataib Hezbollah has previously been implicated in deadly attacks on American personnel, including the January 2024 drone strike on Tower 22, a remote U.S. outpost near the Syria-Jordan border, which killed three U.S. Army soldiers and injured over 30.
The group operates under the umbrella of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which has claimed responsibility for multiple strikes targeting U.S.-linked sites in the region, including the Al-Rukban camp near Tower 22.
U.S. Weighs Diplomatic Versus Military Path
Responding to the intensifying threats, U.S. President Donald Trump has not yet committed to direct military involvement, stating that he will decide within two weeks whether the U.S. will support Israel in its ongoing military operations against Iran.
“Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations… I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, quoting President Trump during a press briefing on Thursday.
She reaffirmed the administration’s hardline stance on Iran’s nuclear program, stating:
“No enrichment of uranium. Iran is absolutely not able to achieve a nuclear weapon. The President has been very clear about that.”
Trump himself, speaking earlier this week, emphasized a preference for diplomacy, but didn’t rule out the military option:
“I’m not looking to fight. But if it’s a choice between fighting and having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do.”
Strategic Stakes Rising
With Israel’s Operation Rising Lion already resulting in mass casualties and infrastructure damage in Iran, Tehran’s allies — including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iraqi Shia militias — are increasingly vocal in their support and threats of broader regional retaliation.
The Pentagon has not yet responded to the Kataib Hezbollah statement, but U.S. forces across the region remain on high alert, and CENTCOM is believed to be repositioning assets in response to the evolving threat landscape.
Key Takeaways:
- Kataib Hezbollah threatens U.S. bases and global maritime routes if America joins the Israel-Iran war.
- Trump delays decision on U.S. military involvement, citing potential diplomatic opening.
- Tensions remain high with prior deadly attacks on U.S. forces and ongoing Israeli operations inside Iran.
- The conflict risks drawing in multiple regional actors and significantly disrupting global oil supplies.