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10 OPINION maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 31 JANUARY 2024 Sara Harmouch is a PhD Candidate, School of Public Affairs, American University Sara Harmouch A drone attack that killed three American troops and wound- ed at least 34 more at a base in Jordan has increased fears of a widening conflict in the Middle East – and the possibility that the U.S. may be further drawn into the fighting. President Joe Biden vowed to respond to the assault, blam- ing Iran-backed militias for the first U.S. military casualties in months of such strikes in the region. But to what extent was Iran involved? And what happens next? What do we know about the group that claimed responsi- bility? Al-Muqawama al-Islamiyah fi al-Iraq, which translates as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, has claimed responsibility for the drone attack. However, the Islamic Re- sistance in Iraq is not a single group per se. Rather, it is a term used to describe an umbrel- la organization, which, since around 2020, has included var- ious Iran-backed militias in the region. Initially, the Islamic Resist- ance in Iraq emerged as a re- sponse to foreign military pres- ence and political interventions, especially after the 2003 U.S.- led invasion of Iraq. The Islam- ic Resistance in Iraq acted as a collective term for pro-Tehran Iraqi militias, allowing them to launch attacks under a single banner. Over time, it evolved to become a front for Iran-backed militias operating beyond Iraq, including those in Syria and Lebanon. Today, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq operates as a cohesive force rather than as a singu- lar entity – that is to say, as a network its objectives often align with Iran's goal of pre- serving its influence across the region, but on a national level the groups have their distinct agendas. The collective is notorious for its staunch anti-U.S. posture and dynamic military cam- paigns, such as a recent two- day drone operation targeting American forces at an Iraqi airbase. Operating under this one ban- ner of Islamic Resistance, these militias effectively conceal the identities of the actual per- petrators in their operations. This was seen in the deadly Jan. 28, 2024, attack on Tower 22, a U.S. military base in Jordan. Although it is evident that an Iranian-supported militia or- chestrated the drone assault, pinpointing the specific faction within this broad coalition re- mains elusive. This deliberate strategy hin- ders direct attribution and poses challenges for countries attempting to identify and re- taliate against the precise cul- prits. What do they hope to achieve in attacking a US target? Iranian-backed militias have been intensifying attacks on U.S. forces in recent months in response to American support for Israel in the Israel-Hamas conflict, and also to assert re- gional influence. Since the beginning of the conflict in October 2023, Irani- an-backed militias have repeat- edly struck American military bases in Iraq and Syria, recently expanding their attacks to in- clude northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border. The deadly assault on Jan. 28 marks a significant escalation, though – it is the first instance during the Israel-Hamas war that American troops have been killed. The attack in Jordan forms part of a strategy by Irani- an-backed militias to counter Washington's support for Isra- el in the Gaza conflict. But it is also aimed at advancing a wider goal of pushing U.S. forces out of the Middle East entirely. By coordinating attacks under the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, these groups are trying to dis- play a unified stance against U.S. interests and policy, show- casing their collective strength and strategic alignment across the region. What role did Iran have in the attack? Iran has officially denied any involvement in the drone strike. But the Islamic Resistance in Iraq is known to be part of the networks of militia groups that Tehran supports. Iran, through the Islamic Rev- olutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, has provided such mili- tias with money, weapons and training. However, the extent of Iran's command and coordi- nation in specific incidents like the Jordan attack remains un- clear. At this stage, more con- crete evidence is necessary to firmly implicate Iran. As Iran expert Nakissa Jahan- bani and I recently explained in an article for The Conversation, Iran's strategy in the region in- volves supporting and funding militia groups while granting them a degree of autonomy. By doing so, Iran maintains plausible deniability when it comes to attacks carried out by its proxies. So while Iran's direct involve- ment in the attack has not been definitively established, Teh- ran's long-standing support of groups like the Islamic Resist- ance in Iraq is well document- ed, playing a significant role in the regional conflict dynamics and geopolitical strategies. What options does the US have to respond? It isn't clear how the U.S. in- tends to respond to the attack. The Biden administration fac- es complex dynamics when it comes to responding to attacks linked to Iranian-backed mili- tias. While a forceful military strike is an option that the Bid- en administration appears to be looking at, targeting Iran di- rectly on its own soil is fraught with risks and may be seen as a step too far. Even when targeting Iranian interests or personnel, such as the assassination of Quds Force General Qassem Soleimani, the U.S has conducted these ac- tions outside Iranian territory. Iran's denial of direct involve- ment in the attack further com- Drone attack on American troops risks widening Middle East conflict In this file picture, US soldiers walk while on patrol by the Suwaydiyah oil fields in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah