In the aftermath of a drone attack that claimed the lives of three US soldiers in Jordan, the Iraqi militia Kataeb Hizbollah has announced a suspension of its military and security operations against US forces in the region. The attack, which the US has attributed to "radical Iran-backed militant groups," prompted the militia to take this step to avoid causing embarrassment to the Iraqi government.

Kataeb Hizbollah's secretary-general, Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, stated, "We announce the suspension of military and security operations against the occupation forces in order to prevent embarrassment to the Iraqi government." He further mentioned that the group's fighters would engage in "passive defense" in the event of any "hostile American action."

President Joe Biden, responding to the recent drone attack, expressed his determination to address the situation while emphasizing a desire to avoid a wider conflict in the Middle East. "I don’t think we need a wider war in the Middle East. That’s not what I’m looking for," he added.

US officials are still assessing responsibility for the attack, with Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh noting, "It has the footprints of Kataeb Hizbollah, but not making a final assessment on that — our teams here are continuing to do the analysis."

Kataeb Hizbollah, founded after the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, is recognized as one of the most powerful Shia militias in the region, maintaining strong ties with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Experts identify the group as a leading member of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organization responsible for over 140 attacks on US troops in Iraq and Syria.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq is part of the Axis of Resistance, a collective term used by Tehran to describe various groups that have targeted Israeli and American military installations across the Middle East. Amidst escalating tensions, Lebanon’s Hizbollah has engaged in frequent clashes with Israel on their shared border, while Houthi rebels in Yemen have attacked merchant ships in the Red Sea.

President Biden's decision to respond to the drone attack marks a critical development in the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region, with the situation being closely monitored for further developments.