History of conflict: U.S. military actions against Iran-backed forces

The deadly drone attack by an alleged Iranian-backed group on a U.S. military post along the Syrian-Jordanian border on Sunday killed three American troops and wounded dozens of other military personnel while they slept.

Within hours of the incident, the Biden administration said it would respond and hold those responsible... "at a time and in a manner" it would choose.  

While the U.S. accuses Iran of having links to the attack, Tehran has denied playing any role. 

“As we have clearly stated before, the resistance groups in the region are responding [to] the war crimes and genocide of the child-killing Zionist regime and… they do not take orders from the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Kanaani, was quoted as saying by IRNA on Monday.

Despite Tehran’s denial, U.S. President Joe Biden said he has made up his mind to respond. He did not provide any details but fears of a wider military escalation are gripping the Middle East region.

The complex relationship between the United States and Iran-backed groups has been marked by periodic military confrontations. 

Background of Iran-Backed Groups:

To better understand the U.S. military's involvement, it's important to consider the geopolitical context. Organizations such as Hezbollah, the militia group Kataib Hezbollah and others have received support from Iran, fostering a network of influence that extends beyond Iran's borders.

In the case of the drone attack on the small U.S. outpost in Jordan, the U.S. has pointed to the Iraqi paramilitary, Kataib Hezbollah, a group that was part of the nation’s Popular Mobilization Forces, which fought the Islamic State in 2014.

Kataib Hezbollah’s headquarters is reportedly in Jurf Al-Sakhar, a town located in the Iraqi province of Babil, the site of previous U.S. attacks against the group. 

Escalation in Iraq and Syria:

A significant portion of U.S. military strikes against Iran-backed groups has occurred in Iraq and Syria. The U.S. has aimed to counter Iranian influence and protect its interests in the region. These strikes have drawn criticism for their impact on civilians and raised questions about their effectiveness.

One of the most prominent U.S. attacks in Iraq took place four years ago this month, when a suicide drone strike killed the head of Iran’s Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani, and the commander of Kataib Hezbollah and Deputy Chairman of Iraq’s PMF, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis. 

Any military moves taken by the Biden Administration in the coming months could have a significant impact on this year's presidential elections in the U.S.